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One of the fields from which plants will be dug to supply our customers this year 
1918 
/TRAWBERRY prices generally were quite good for the 1917 season. We can give our Straw- 
berry-growing friends no heartier greeting than to hope they have shared abundantly in this 
prosperity, and to assure them of our heartiest codperation and help in making future crops 
profitable. 
Of one thing we are sure. We must not slacken our efforts to produce just as much as 
we can, for reasons of patriotism as well as of profit. Fruit is not a luxury; it is a necessity. 
As such, we should make that supply plentiful. 
We are asked to economize and conserve wherever we can. You will notice this Book of Berries is only 
half as large as last year. We have tried to leave out nothing that will detract from its value to you. Our 
cultural directions are as complete as usual, and we stand ready at all times to answer questions and help 
you solve your problems through personal letters. Our variety descriptions are a little shorter than last 
year, but we have tried to include the really important things—whether perfect or imperfect flowering, 
season of ripening, quality, color shade, shipping quality, good combinations, and the best soil in case of 
varieties where any special type of soil is best. 
The facts about our plants are told fairly and honestly. Our plant beds this year are thinner than usual, 
making the individual plants much larger and stronger. Our cost for labor, planting, hoeing, cultivating, 
cutting blossoms, digging, cleaning, bunching, packing, and the cost of materials, fertilizers, manure, pack- 
ages, paper, twine, moss, dipping solutions, etc., have all increased enormously. We will not send out 
inferior plants. We believe that few people expect something for nothing. We believe few growers want 
plants grown at a loss, because such plants sooner or later will deteriorate, something will be left undone. 
We are charging a price that will enable us to do all we claim to do, and that can be done to produce the 
best plants. This is the fairest thing to do, for, after all, the original cost of plants is slight compared with 
the cost of labor, manure, and care, and also with the returns of a good field of Strawberries. 
We have also endeavored to supply, in a direct and simple fashion, such cultural directions as may 
be needed by everyone who grows Strawberries. The man or woman who is about to take the first step 
in berry-growing will find the first few pages of this catalog extremely helpful; the experienced grower 
will find them useful in many ways, and we would suggest that they be given careful attention. 
The many thousands of friends and customers who have bought our plants need no introduction to the 
firm. For the benefit of others, we will say The W. F. Allen Company consists of W. F. Allen, Fulton W. 
Allen, W. Lee Allen, and Albert G. Allen—father and sons. We are all right in the work every minute— 
no idlers here. We believe the fact that there are several responsible parties directly interested to see and 
know that you get good plants and good service makes that quality and service doubly sure. We ask for 
your patronage. We offer the best plants, heaviest roots, large crowns, freshly dug daily, twenty-five in 
a bunch, good count, each bunch labeled, prompt shipment, unsurpassed packing, courteous treatment. 
May we have your order? 
Copyright, 1917, by The W. F. Allen Co. 
