THE W. F. ALLEN CO, SALISBURY, MD. 



A hoe and 12-tooth cultivator are the best tools to use. In 

 general, the patch should be cultivated every ten days, or two 

 weeks anyway. Skillful use of the cultivator will make neces- 

 sary much less hand-labor. 



Young plants, set out in early spring, will blossom freely at 

 the regular blossoming season, and if not cut off, will set and bear 

 quite a few berries. But it is best to cut these blossoms off so 

 that the plants can make a more vigorous growth and be in better 

 shape to bear a full crop of fine fruit the following spring. 



Manure and Fertilizer. Thorough cultivation is the best 

 treatment for a strawberry patch. Barnyard manure is the best 

 fertilizer you can apply to the field. Applied broadcast before 

 the plants are set (see Preparing the Land, page 7) is the best 

 way to get them started early and make a good growth. Ma- 

 nure can be applied, as a top dressing on the plants, best in the fall. 

 If handled in this way it acts as a mulch during the winter and 

 is very beneficial to the fruiting beds in the spring. 



If manure is not used, a high grade commercial fertilizer can 

 be used to start the young plants off. Apply this broadcast 

 before the plants are set or as a top dressing afterward. Never 

 put it in a furrow under the plants unless in very moist ground. 

 If stable manure is not used, a top dressing of fertilizer in the early 

 spring will be very beneficial to the fruiting beds. For young 

 plants just set or for fruiting beds any fertilizer containing 2-5 % 

 available ammonia and 5-10 % available phosphoric acid should 

 be satisfactory. We use a 5-8-5 fertilizer for top dressing in 

 Spring. 



Perfect and Imperfect Varieties. Perfect flowering va- 

 rieties planted alone will mature a crop of perfect fruit. Imper- 

 fect flowering varieties should have perfect varieties planted with 

 them, at least one row for every five or six. When two varieties 

 are used in equal amounts, they are often alternated three or four 

 rows of each. In our price-list, perfect flowering varieties are 

 followed by "per" — imperfect varieties by "imp." 



Mulching. A mulch is applied for one or all of three reasons : 

 First, to protect the plants from freezing and thawing of the soil 

 in winter; second, to keep the soil cool and moist during the sea- 

 son when fruit is being produced; third, to keep the berries from 

 being spattered with dirt by rain during fruiting season. 



The mulch should be applied in the fall. In the spring when 

 plants begin to start this is raked to the center of the rows and 

 there serves the purpose of retarding the growth of weeds and 

 grass, keeping the ground loose and moist and the fruit clean. 

 Use coarse manure, marsh grass, rye straw or similar material. 



This Letter was Forwarded to Us. 



Hopkins County, Kt., March 24, 1920. 

 Mrs. J. W. Summers, 



Earlington, Ky. 

 Dear Mrs. Summers: 



Your letter received, and for your information I am enclosing herewith 

 the W. F. Allen's Book of Berries of Salisbury, Md., which will give you the 

 desired information, and will say further that these people are thoroughly 

 reliable and send out the best rooted plants of any nursery I have ever hed 

 dealings with. I don't think you will miss it if you order the varieties that 

 I have marked with a pencil in this little book. 

 Wishing you all kinds of good luck, I remain, 



C H. Skinner. 



Nicest He Ever Bought. 



Marion County, Fla., January 15, 1920. 

 I got the plants O. K. I must say they were the nicest ones I have ever 

 bjught. I want to try out the Progressive, and I will probably give you 

 a nice order some day if I can get the land. I believe they will do well here. 

 Thanks for such nice ones. 



M. W. McDavid. 



We Have Shipped Over 500 Orders for This Firm. 



Philadelphia County, Pa., February 17, 1920. 

 From now on we will send you orders for strawberry layer plants which 

 you may book for shipment at the proper time. These can be sent by pareel 

 p ist as in the past, or large quantities by express. We trust that we will 

 be able to do quite a large business this year. Would also state that your 

 sr.ock has been perfectly satisfactory, as we have not to date received any 

 c .mplaints of the stock you have forwarded direct to our customers. 



Henry F. Michell Co. 



Delighted. 



Hillsborough County, Fla., May 7, 1920. 

 Your plants were fine and I am delighted with same. 



Mrs. M. P. Mills. 



