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EARLIDAW 



'arliest of All 



Earlidawn is a result of a cross between Midland and Tennessee Shipper. It was originated 

 at Beltsville, Md., in 1947 by the U.S.D.A. and after observation and testing as U.S. 3939 was 

 released for introduction in the fall of 1956 as Earlidawn. Since Earlidawn has been introduced 

 the demand for it has been constantly increasing each year until at the present time it is the 

 third highest seller on our list. 



The original U.S.D.A. release describes the variety accurately: ,l The ripening season of 

 Earlidawn is about 5 days before Blakemore and Howard 17 (Premier). Earlidawn is the earliest 

 of all to ripen; its flower stems are short and the flowers are well covered by leaves to protect 

 them from frost. It has escaped frost even better than Premier. The berries average large in 

 size and maintain large average size throughout the picking season. The color of the berries 

 is strong to vivid red, a little deeper than the Blakemore color. They are glossy, have a mod- 

 erately tough skin, and are firmer than Premier, Catskill and Sparkle, about as firm as Poca- 

 hontas and less firm than Blakemore. The seeds are slightly sunken. The berries are fairly 

 uniform in shape and their flavor is tart and good." (See color picture front cover.) 



'The plants are vigorous, fairly free of leaf spot and leaf scorch, produce fewer runners 

 than most other varieties and are very productive and have shown no yellow variegation. They 

 are not resistant to red stele root-rot. The plants are productive in wide matted rows. Yields of 

 Earlidawn have been above those of most other varieties in Maryland." 



WHY IS EARLIDAWN SO POPULAR? 



Earlidawn is the earliest ripening variety, ripening 5 to 8 days earlier than any other standard 



variety. In Ohio 50% of Earlidawn berries are harvested before 20% of the Premier crop is picked. 



Earlidawn is a heavy producer. At Wooster, Ohio, in the 1960-61 season Earlidawn yielded 8,349 



quarts per acre. We have consistent reports from most areas where Earlidawn is grown of yields 



better than 8,000 quarts per acre under tests. 



Earlidawn is firm and definitely able to carry to market in good shape. 



Earlidawn is a good berry for freezing. True the flavor is somewhat tart but more Earlidawn 



berries are being frozen each year. 



Earlidawn is adaptable. We have excellent reports on Earlidawn from the upper south through 



the middle states into the far north. Earlidawn is generally the best where Premier has faded 



in popularity. 



And last, but certainly not least, with every year as further evidence accumulates we can 



make an increasingly strong statement that Earlidawn is very frost resistant (most reports 



indicating a greater degree than Premier) if not frost proof. 



WHAT IS WRONG WITH EARLIDAWN? 



Earlidawn is very susceptible to verticilium wilt. Where verticilium wilt is a specific problem 

 Earlidawn should not be planted. Earlidawn is for the good grower. With good growing condi- 

 tions and adequate moisture Earlidawn is a vigorous producer of runners, but under poor 

 growing conditions Earlidawn is one of the first to suffer. 



We have planted a large acreage of Earlidawn and they have grown very well despite 

 the dry weather, but we have sold out of Earlidawn every year for the past four years and 

 we expect the situation to be the same again this year. May we suggest that you place your 

 order for this variety early? Price list page 32. 



