PEDIGREE-The pedigree of a plant 
must be known in scientific propa- 
gation, because it requires several years 
to breed up and develop it, and the line 
of ancestry must not be broken by prop- 
agating from any weak plant. 
THOROUGHBRED PLANTS-A thor- 
oughbred plant is one possessing the 
best characteristics of its variety, the re- 
sult of being grown continuously under 
the most favorable environment and the 
fixation of good qualities by annually se- 
lecting the desirable variations, discarding 
weaklings and restricting to prevent pollen 
and seed exhaustion; thus preserving a 
perfect balance between vegetative parts 
and fruit-producing organism. 
THE PEDIGREE OF THESE PLANTS— 
The pedigree of each plant offered 
in this catalog, unless otherwise stated in 
the description, shows the ancestry in 
lineal ascent to have been thoroughbred, 
as above stated, and they are believed to 
be perfect in their physical and fruiting 
organisms in all respects. 
COMMON PLANTS-- Plants, as commonly 
grown under ordinary conditions, 
without any systematic selection of bud 
variation, and for the want of proper re- 
striction, are more or less pollen-ex- 
hausted and therefore have a strong tend- 
ency to make runners rather than strong 
fruit buds. They do not give uniformity 
of quality to fruit under any system of 
tillage that may be followed. 
THE CAUSE AND THE EFFECT— We 
have pointed out the cause of un- 
fruitfulness in plants and have given the 
effectual remedy as proved by repeated 
definite experiments, which may be sum- 
med up as follows: The most congenial 
environment to induce better variations, 
continuously selecting those making the 
greatest improvements, and keeping them 
under restricted fruitage to develop their 
fruit-producing organism. These meth- 
ods have met the warmest approval of the 
highest horticultural experts in the coun- 
try, and especially that of the Interna- 
tional Conference of Plant Breeders. We 
have been the pioneers in this work, and 
have the only establishment in the coun- 
try having the perfect conditions required 
for this order of plant breeding. 
STOCK FOR PROPAGATION-We make 
a specialty of furnishing fruit growers 
with Thoroughbred Plants for their prop- 
agating beds, from which they may grow 
perfect plants, which will respond to high 
culture with large berries and plenty of 
them, as well as for general planting. 
THE DEMAND-Heretofore the demand 
has been beyond our ability to sup- 
ply. Wherever these plants have been 
seen in fruiting under good cultivation 
they have created a sensation, and in order 
to meet the demand we long ago discon- 
tinued the propagation of all other nur- 
sery stock and in 1906 had a larger acre- 
age of the best developed plants we have 
ever grown; but the demand also is rap- 
idly increasing and the indications are 
that there will be a greater call for them 
in 1907 than in any previous year. Orders 
are filed in rotation of receipt and it is to 
your interest to have your order booked 
as early as possible, which will insure 
your getting the varieties selected. Our 
customers always are the leaders on the 
markets. 
THE PHOTOGRAPHS -Typical speci- 
mens of each variety were photo- 
graphed in the season of 1906 and en- 
graved to show the size and form of the 
berries of different varieties, but the cam- 
era cannot do them justice, as the beau- 
tiful color, delicious flavor and firm 
texture cannot be put into the picture. 
The remarkable uniformity of berries of 
different varieties arises out of continued 
selection of those approaching most 
nearly to the ideal type. It is the result 
of skillful breeding for more than twenty 
years. 
THIS BOOK IS FREE -Copies of this 
book will be sent free to any four of 
your friends, with your name and compli- 
ments written on each book, so they will 
know that you sent it. Send in their 
names They must be persons interested 
in berry growing. 
COPYRIGHTS~The various editions of 
this work have been duly copy- 
righted, covering engravings and all sub- 
ject matter. All rights are reserved, and 
nurserymen will be held responsible for 
infringements in making up their catalogs. 
THE AVERY PRESSj THREE RIVERS, MICH. 
