W. F. ALLEN’S PLANT AND SEED CATALOGUE. 
17 
Excelsior. —Taking the whole country over, 
this variety is more largely grown as an early 
market berry than any other variety. In our 
voting contest two years ago, the Excelsior 
received sixty one more votes than uny other 
early variety. There is nothing that I have 
ever seen that is earlier, and if not allowed to 
bed up too thick, the fruit is of good size and 
very productive. I have grown acres of it that 
would average over 5,000 quarts per acre. 
Ham. — A seedling of the Mary crossed with 
Parker Earl. The Rural New Yorker says of 
it; 
“Vigorous with broad, very dark foliage, productive in 
a high degree of large long berries very dark in color, 
smooth and solid, llesh deep red, excellent quality, ap¬ 
pearance and quality better than Marshall, as grown here 
and much more productive. Early but keeps up well 
through the entire season. An excellent berry for the 
home table or for market. 
Howard. —A seedling of Barton’s Eclipse 
crossed with Gandy. A late variety ripening 
with Gandy and excelling it in productiveness, 
also in color and quality of fruit, a valuable 
market or garden berry. In speaking of the 
Howard, the Rural New Yorker has this to say; 
“Late, strong productive plants, foliage tough and re¬ 
sistant, very large berries, firm and well colored quality, 
better than Gandy; a very promising market sort. ^ 
Johnson’s Early. —This variety is particu¬ 
larly adapted to stiff clay low land; I have nev¬ 
er seen it produce a full crop on light soil, 
while on heavy soil, it produces satisfactorily 
Time of ripening 
second early, ber¬ 
ries are above me¬ 
dium in size, very 
prettily col o r e d 
and of extra fine 
quality. In fact, 
I doubt if there is 
any early berry 
quite equal to it- 
when quality a- 
lone is considered. 
The foliage is 
clean and healthy, 
and it is one of 
the most persis¬ 
tent plant makers 
grown. 
Kfondyke.— 
This variety orig¬ 
inated in Louisi¬ 
ana, and quoting 
a Mississippi 
grower, he says; 
“I have fifty acres 
of this variety 
alone. It leads all 
other varieties as 
a great market 
berry in this part 
of the South. 
More of it planted 
than of twenty 
others.” Quoting a prominent grower in 
Ohio, he describes it thus: ‘‘A good 
old variety, the plant is of only moderate 
size but is a good grower and bearer; like the 
Gandy it produces some pistillate blossoms ear¬ 
ly in the season ; the fruit is large, obtusely 
conical, smooth red, firm, and of good quality. 
I have not fruited it, but have a considerable 
plot growing and the plants are remarkable for 
their vigor. They are standing eight or ten 
inches high, and the beds are from thirty to 
forty inches wide. I should be pleased to sup¬ 
ply with plants those who wish this variety. 
Marshall. —This is a large fancy berry of 
fine color and quality that has been immensely 
popular in the Boston market. I believe it 
has taken more prizes in the Massachusetts 
Horticultural Society than any other variety. 
The plants are as large as any grown, a single 
plant being several times as large as a single 
plant of Orescent, Dunlap and others of that 
type. For the garden or for local market, 
where very fine appearance and high quality 
is appreciated, this variety should always be 
grown. It is not as productive, however, as 
many other kinds. 
► Bucks Co., October 25.1905. 
► The plants arrived in line condition and are very 
► satisfactory. Very Respt., B. T. Muschert, 
