W. F. ALLEN’S PLANT AND SEED CATALOGUE. 
3 
high price. Even at the price named, it is 
somewhat doubtful that there will he enough 
to supply the demand. The above illustration 
is a true photograph of the berries as they run, 
very much reduced of coufse. You can buy 
this variety from no one except myself, as I 
have a contract with the originaton giving me 
absolute control of the variety until 1908, 
The Virginia .—On page 20 of my 1904 
catalogue, a similar offer was made as in the 
preceding year. The offer was that I would 
pay 1100.00 in gold for the best twelve straw¬ 
berry plants sent me be'ore May 1st, 1904, of 
any new variety not yet introduced, and $50.00 
for the second best dozen. This prize went to 
Virginia, hence the name of the berry. There 
were nearly 100 competitors for this prize and 
notwithstanding the large number of varieties 
that were in this contest, any child could easi¬ 
ly have made the se¬ 
lection of the best one. 
A number of people who 
saw the plot were asked 
to give their opinion as 
to which one was en¬ 
titled to the prize, and 
without a single excep¬ 
tion they went to this 
variety. Unlike the 
Chesapeake the Virgin¬ 
ia is very early being 
within a day or two of 
the Excelsior: it is very 
productive and of a un¬ 
iform large size for an 
early berry. As com¬ 
pared with all commer¬ 
cial varieties, irrespec¬ 
tive of season, I should 
call the size a large 
medium. The berry is 
of a bright red color, 
having the appearance 
of being varnished, and 
makes a very attractive 
appearance both on the 
vines and after it is 
picked. It is said to 
be a cross of Hoffman 
and Sharpless. The 
foliage, while distinct, 
is very similar to the 
former. The plant is a 
strong growing variety 
and as yet I have never 
seen a spot of rust. For 
those who want an early 
berry that is remark¬ 
ably L free from disease, 
good size [and good 
quality, ripening al¬ 
most if not quita as 
early as the earliest varieties grown, 
should not fail to give this berry a trial, 
whether growing for home use or for market. 
The originator described it as being two or 
three days later than the Excel dor. With me 
the past season, side by side, both under the 
same conditions, it was equally as early as any 
variety I had growing. Excelsior, Hoffman, 
Mitchell’s, and other very early sorts were all 
grown within a few feet of it. The stock so 
far is necessarily limited, but not so much so 
as are the Chesapeake. I have a contract 
with Mr. Custis, to whom the premium was 
paid, that no plants will be sold or otherwise 
disposed of for two years, except to myself, and 
I am enabled to offer my customers a few 
thousand plants this season of hi) growing. As 
compared with Climax it is equal to it in size, 
in productiveness, in quality, in healthful 
VIRGINIA. 
