/ 
A FEW WORDS 
ABOUT THE PAST, THE 
PRESENT, AND FUTURE 
Twenty-one years ago, I made my first bid are at present in the 
to the public for patronage in the plant bnsi- best condition, not a 
ness by issuing a very small four-page circular, weed having been al- 
Mv first stock was bought with fifteen dollars lowed to grow in 
of borrowed capital. From this small begin- them through the 
ning the business has grown more or less each whole summer. Iam 
year, until as much as twenty-two thousand preparing to fill or- 
dollars’ worth of plants have been sold in a ders for from eight 
single season, representing from six to seven to ten million plants, 
millions of plants, weighing when packed ready all of my own grow- 
for the mail and express between seventy and ing, and consisting 
eighty tons. From the first, it was my motto of ninety-nine varie- 
to send out first class plants that would so ties, 
please my customers that they would continue The gold prize 
to send their orders to me. This, to a very offers made in 1908-4 
great degree, has been accomplished, as many have been,, paid, las 
of the customers who bought from me when I per announcement 
first commenced the business, are still sending elsewhere in this cat- 
me their orders. To be sure, in twenty-one alogue. The two va- 
years of plant business, we have had a few rieties taking 
complaints, but I think as small a proportion first premium 
perhaps as anyone in the business who has areofferedfor 
handled as many orders, and I am sure that no sale. They 
one has tried harder to have every customer are “Chesa- 
satisfied. For this large increase in business, peake” and 
I feel very thankful to my many customers. “ Virginia”'. 
The growing season of 1904 was an unusual- One is an ex- 
ly had one and my stock of plants was very ceptionally 
much smaller than for several years previous, valuable late 
Owing to this fact, I did not solicit new cus- variety, and 
tomers through the advertising columns of the the other one 
Agricultural press, but did all in my power to a very valua- 
take care of my old customers, to do which I ble early one; 
had to buy quite a few plants; these, in every both of which, I 
case, were bought from those who sent out good have no doubt, 
stock, or where I had furnished plants and will become stan- A GOOD PLANT, 
knew the stock to be pure and good. Never- dard varieties as they become known. It has 
theless, in some cases, it was not quite up to been my pleasure to introduce Glen Mary, New 
the standard of my own home grown plants. York and Kansas. The Kansas has proven valu- 
To illustrate, quite a good many of my custom- able in some sections but does not seem to be 
ers wanted William Belt; my own stock was soon a general favorite. The New York is growing 
exhausted, and in order to take care of my cus- more popular every year, and for several sea- 
tomers who wanted this variety, I bought all sons, notwithstanding I have grown more each 
the good plants that could be found in Maryland, year, I have not had enough to supply the de- 
Delaware and New Jersey; and I wish to say mand. The Glen Mary is no doubt, one of^the 
that if any of my last year’s customers found most popular fancy berries in the country to- 
the plants not quite up to their expectations, it day. Throughout the West, North and Middle 
was not my intention, and I assure them that States, it is acknowledged by almost every one 
I did everything possible to fill their orders in to be one of the very best grown. This variety 
the 7ery best manner possible under the un- is not however, especially recommended for the 
favorable circumstances. THE SEASON OF South. It is my wish and I believe it will be 
1905, I AM PLEASED TO SAY, HAS BEEN realized, that the Chesapeake and the Virginia 
QUITE A DIFFERENT ONE, AND MY PRES- will be even more popular than the New York 
ENT STOCK OF PLANTS IS THE LARGEST and Glen Mary. 
AND ONE OF THE FINEST THAT I HAVE For many years, dewberries have also re- 
EVER GROWN. By referring to the bottom of ceived considerable attention from me, and my 
the last cover page, you can get a glimpse of present crop of Lucretia and Austin plants is as 
how they look. This illustration is a photo- large and as fine as I have ever grown, and as 
graph that fairly illustrates my supply for the an evidence of the popularity of this valuable 
present season, consisting of about sixty acres, fruit my trade has grown larger and larger each 
all of which are grown expressly for plants and year. In yesterday’s mail, I hadj t an order * 
