//y// 1111-^ 1 1^1 Iwi X l-fO«maii, (this catalogue) is again 

 yyjC before you; please take good care of him and consult him whenever 

 Q^-^y C V wanting anything in my line. He is well stocked with the most 

 promising novelties of the season as well as a full line of all the best 

 standard varieties. Kindly favor him with your order and you will 

 never have cause to regret it. It has been my constant aim to treat every cus- 

 tomer in a way that would be gratifying to him and an advertisement to^my bus- 

 iness and judging from the hundreds and hundreds of flattering letters received 

 from my customers, I have very nearly succeeded in pleasing every person who 

 has bought plants of me . In the future, as in the past, it shall be my constant 

 aim to send out plants that will be the pride of the purchaser, the admiration of 

 his neighbor and a growing advertisement of Allen's plants. 



But before going further I wish to thank my many customers for their liberal 

 patronage in 1897, which, in spite of the depressed financial condition of the coun- 

 try, was the most successful business year of my life, and it is my sincere wish 

 that every customer who helped make my success possible may have found his 

 investment with me a profitable one. Again thanking you for past favors and 

 hoping to merit a share of your future patronage, I remain, 



Yours faithfully. w. F. ALLEN, Jr. 



MY STOCK is large and if possible finer than ever. By thorough cultivation 

 the ground has been kept clean from grass and the earth loose and mellow, conse- 

 sequently strong, well rooted, vigorous -Sii^s^j^i^i^J^i^j^-^i^s^j^j^i^j^j^^-^j^^j^j^j^i^^^- 

 and healthy plants is the result. My ^$ jhe kind of plants you get de= f 

 plants are all grown in loose, light, well jj pends largely upon the kind of \\) 



manured soil that produces an abund- k ^^JIZZV^^J^^^^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 3 



ance of fibrous roots that easily come '^'^^^^^^^s^^^^^^^^^i^^^^^^^^^? 

 up with the plants and are not broken off in digging as is the result when grown 

 in clay or stiff soils. We take up no plants to make paths for the pickers but all 

 are taken up and only first class ones are counted. I plant all new beds every 

 year and all old ones are plowed under every June. I never have an old bed in 

 the spring and could not supply old plants even if they were wanted. 



MY FACILITIES have been greatly increased for handling large numbers of 

 orders promptly and correctly. Last year I built a large and commodious pack- 

 ing house and this year we have added a large shed that almost doubles our room 

 on the first floor. All orders will be filled as near the time stated in order as it is 

 possible to do so consistent with correct labeling and unsurpassed packing by 

 skilled workmen. 



TIME OF SHIPMENT — We commence to ship our southern customers dur- 

 ing mild weather any time after they receive this catalogue. In most seasons we 

 can fill a limited number of orders in January and February for the South, and as 

 late as the 10th of May for our northern customers: but for all sections it is advisa- 

 ble to order early and name date for shipment as early as you can possibly use 

 the plants. This is good advice for several reasons, as plants when shipped early 

 if to go a long distance are less liable to damage in the package, they have less 

 foliage and can be packed lighter, thereby lightening express charges, and anoth- 

 er good reason, plants set early almost invariably do well if cared for by an intel- 

 ligent person, while those set late in the season of ten do well but frequently fail 

 entirely. 



ORDERS — Please be sure to write your name and address plainly — give Post 

 Office. County and State — and do this every time you write. Be particular to 

 say how the goods are to be sent, whether by mail or express If by express name 

 company. All orders too heavy for mail should go by express es freight is too slow 

 and unreliable, therefore not safe for perishable goods, except for short distance. 

 Keep a correct copy of the order and check off the stock when it arrives, people 

 often forget what they order and make unjust complaint. 



