GREETING TO CUSTOMERS. 
We come to you in the beginning of this new year with a new catalog, and our 
best wishes for your prosperity and happiness. The year just closed has been one 
of remarkable business activity throughout the country, and plant growers have 
received a fair share of the profits which have rewarded nearly all industries. This 
has enabled them to lay broad foundations and make thorough preparations for 
another year's trade, thus putting themselves in position to serve their customers 
better than ever before. 
The /past season was a remarkably good one for the growth of plants. The 
weather was warmer than it had been for several years before, and in this locality it 
seemed that rain came just when it was needed. Our plantations received the best 
of care, as usual, and are in fine condition at the present time. 
Those who have dealt with us in the past know that we make it our aim to send 
out good stock, true to name, and at reasonable prices. Our plants are all grown 
on new beds set out last spring, and so far as we know, they are perfectly healthy 
and entirely free from insect enemies of ever)' kind. 
We offer a number of the best old varieties, which have made their reputation 
and settled down to stay, and some new^er ones which are still on probation, and 
may or may not be added to the list of reliables. Time and trial will decide. If 
one wishes to find out whether or not any of the new kinds are suited to his require- 
ments it will be necessary for him to experiment, and this is a work that can not 
well be done by proxy. Different conditions and methods produce varied results, 
and the work of one, be it ever so careful, may not decide what will fit another's 
needs. We give the results of our own observations and the testimony of others in 
regard to the new candidates for favor, with the hope of aiding our customers to 
reach correct conclusions, but these can serve only as a general guide. The safe 
way is for each grower to test those varieties which appear to have the traits he 
desires, and decide for himself. 
As for the old, well established sorts, they have been so thoroughly tried, in 
different locations, on various soils, and under many methods of culture, that the 
planter can judge with reasonable certainty, from their general reputation which 
will suit him best. 
It is sometimes said that there is no use in introducing so many new varieties 
of strawberries, we have too many already. It may be true that we have too many, 
but it is only by continued striving after something better that we ijiake improve- 
ment. Each new introduction probablj^ shows great merit in its native locality, 
and whether it will do well elsewhere or not, can be determined only hy trial. If 
found wanting, it is dropped; if deserving, it is given another test, and another, 
and so on, until, if finally worthy, it is accorded the high rank which each orignator 
hopes his favorite will attain. The labor of testing the many which fall by the way 
is more than recompensed by the value of the few which climb to places of dis- 
tinction. 
We return our hearty thanks to those who have patronized us in the past, and 
hope for a continuance of the pleasant relations between them and us. To those 
who buy of us this year for the first time, we will say that we are prepared, with 
good stock, good help, good facilities for transportation, and good intentions, to 
give our customers a square deal, and it is our purpose to do so. 
