m RM.KEIXOGGCOMR\NY THREE RIVERS. MICn. 
Weather Conditions in 1916 
'HE YEAR 1916 will go down on the pages of history as being the most diffi- 
cult season, considered from the point of view of the soil tiller, that this 
country has experienced in well-nigh half a century. The early spring was 
marked by extremely cold and wet weather, which made it most difficult for young 
plants to "take hold" on life and maintain their existence, and while they were yet 
struggling to live there came on the severest and longest period of hot and dry 
weather ever experienced during the more than thirty years of our experience. 
Mercury ranged day after day, for nearly six* weeks, from 90 to 106 degrees in the 
shade, rendering it quite impossible for plant life to make any headway, and result- 
ing in the loss of many hundreds of thousands of dollars in the immediate vicinity 
of our own farms. Fortunately, we had our irrigation plant to help us out; other- 
wise we should have stood to lose a still greater portion of our fields of plants. As 
it was, the terrific and continuing heat, extending over so long a period of time, 
led to losses of a most serious nature on our Three Rivers farms. Letters from 
other nurserymen, covering a large portion of the country, indicate even greater 
losses as a result of the drought. 
At Twin Falls, Idaho, where our Western branch farm is located, the conditions 
were reversed, but the actual results were quite as serious. The cold weather con- 
tinued there practically throughout the entire season. The records show that 
there were no two consecutive months throughout the whole season (excepting July 
and August) in which severe frosts were not experienced. This resulted in the pro- 
duction of the most limited crop of plants we ever have grown on our Western farms. 
As our customers know, we always have based our prices on the crop yield 
and cost of production, as nearly as it is possible to do, but this year it will be 
quite impossible to follow that rule, for if our prices this season were based upon 
the actual size and cost of our crop of plants, the price to our customers would be 
prohibitive. However, in making up the prices for 1917 we have fixed them just 
as low as possible considering the shortage of the crop and the quality of the 
plants. While our crop of plants is the smallest we ever have grown, the quality 
of the plants is superior. Indeed, we never have grown better plants than those 
offered for 1917 setting. This is due to the fact that these plants were watered 
several times each week during the hot, dry weather. The continued waterings 
kept the mother plants in strong vigorous condition, which made it possible to get 
strong, well-rooted runner plants of the highest quality. 
On account of the scarcity of plants the country over, it is very important that 
you send us your order just as early as possible, so that the plants of your choice 
may be reserved for you. The extraordinary shortage of plants throughout the 
country is sure to make strawberry growing all the more profitable, because there 
will be fewer plants set, which naturally will make the price of strawberries much 
higher during the next few years. The grower who sets a liberal acreage this 
season is sure to realize a big profit. Indeed, the question of price should not be 
considered. The thing that concerns you most this year is. Can you get the plants? 
We can supply you with plants provided your order reaches us early. 
Page Thirty-seven 
