ALLEN'S STRAWBERRY CATALOGUE 15 



of this berry I have propagated a new variety, Johnson's Early, the fruit of 

 which I marketed in New York City this year for the first time. In size this 

 berry is much larger than Hoffman, deep rf d in color, glossy, firm, sweet and 

 of excellent flavor. The plant resembles Hoffman. It makes runners freely; 

 in this respect I have never seen an} thing to compare with it. In point of 

 yield it is as productive as Crescent It ripens witi Mitchel's Early in point of 

 time. Soon after blossom the st^m curves and the fruit turns down, thus get- 

 ting the protection of the cap The plant is perfectly healthy and is believed 

 to be absolutely rust proof A large grower in Caroline county, Md., saw my 

 plants after the fruit was gathered, and remarked that they were so green they 

 did not appear to have been picked. I have had this plant in light loam and 

 alpo in stiff clay soil, with equal results The yield this year on one eighth of 

 an acre of thin soil, which was frequently cultivated after planting, though 

 neither manured nor fertilized, was equal to 6000 quarts per acre." — Origina- 

 tor 



My stock of Johnson's Early came direct from the original patch last 

 spring and my supply of plants of this variety for spring of 1900 is without 

 doubt the finest in existence. Berry growers cannot afford to be without this 

 variety. I shall plant it largely for fruit as well as for plants to supply the 

 enormous demand which is sure to come. See full page illustration of John- 

 son's Early showing how it grows at Allen's plant farms. 



EMPEROR Perfect)— Originated by the late John Little, of Canada, near- 

 ly two years ago. The plant is large and stocky, a healthy and vigorous grow- 

 er,' and a very abundant bearer. It has grown here some six years and I never 

 discovered any weakness in it till last season, -when man^ of its berries were 

 nubbins. This, however, was the case with several varieties which failed to 

 get properly fertilized on account of so much rain when they were in bloom. 

 The berries are very large, quite regular in form, except that some of the first 

 to ripen are corrugated, but never cockscombed The color is dark rich red, 

 and extends well to the center The fiesn is firm and of very good flavor. Sea- 

 son, mediu ji. A good berry for any purpose. 



Mr. Little considered this the best he ever produced, and I am confident 

 that it will be an acquisition. M. Crawford. 



' The Emperor is prop*-rly named, I think, as the royal blood of nobility 

 seems to permeate and pervade it in every plant, leaf and berry. Vigorous in 

 growth, entirely free as yet from the hlightfst trace of taint or disease, won- 

 derfully productive, beautiful in appearance, both in plant and fruit, and then 

 transferring the criticism from sight to taste there is no disappointment, but 

 rather an affirmation of all their other good qualities " 



Had I never g^own thn Margaret I could easily place this variety at the 

 head of the list, a^^ combining all the good qualities in the strawberry,* but that 

 grand, tried and true variet" s' ill "holds the fort" with me, although during 

 the past fruiting sea'^on the Emyjeror has been battering at its walls and de- 

 manding entrance, not so much, perhaps, for po.s&essio?*, as for admission on 

 equal terms with the present tenant "' E. C. Davis. 



Northampton, Mass , August 19, 1899. 



Mr Thos. Wilde a skillful grower, of Ottawa Co , Mich., who has given the 

 Emperor hi<zh culture, speaks of it as follows: "The result was it grows large 

 like tomatoes, and you c-juld not get more of them into a box than you could 

 of large hen's eg^s They are of fine quality and color. 



♦'THE CARMI REAUTY— Is the strawberry for the farmer's garden and the 

 home marKet. This berry i> a chance se^dling'found on my place in 1S9I. We 

 have no hesitation in pronouncing this the largest berry up to date. It's tine 

 size and < eauriful appearance attract the attention of the best buyers 



It is of the highest liavor, satisfying the most fastidious taste. 



It is the earliest of the medium earlv varieties — a few davs earlier than the 

 CresceDt 



It is a large, deep rooted plant, with an abindant healthy, dark green foli- 

 age, which gives it the capacity to bear large crops of fine-fized berries. 



It will stand dry weather longer than anv other kind on mv place, and for 

 a large berry, will bear more to the hill than" anv ther variety." 



