W. F. Allen’s Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md 
RED BIRD .— Originated in Mississippi and sent 
out by Mr. S. Wherry. It was high¬ 
ly recommended to me and I was induced to set a few 
plants a few years ago and was satisfied from the first 
that I had done so. Many growers fail to get a satis¬ 
factory crop owing to the fact that they do not keep it 
thin enough. The vines grow like weeds, and unless 
kept thin will mat so thickly that they will impoverish 
each other, thereby causing the fruit to be small, but 
if kept from getting too thick, they set a heavy crop 
of good size berries that ripen early and carry well. 
When I first had this berry in fruit I sent for one of 
the largest growers in the State, and he has been 
growing it in large quantities ever since, and I under¬ 
stand is very well pleased with it. The berries are 
very tart and would not be considered good eating 
without plenty of sugar, but as a first early shipping 
berry, considering size, productiveness and firmness, 
it probably has no equal. The fruit will average 
larger than the Excelsior, and with me will bear twice 
as much per acre, although the Excelsior I consider a 
good yielder, nevertheless T say twice as many quarts 
per acre and I believe that it will do it. It is a pis¬ 
tillate variety, and the earliest pistillate variety that 
I know of. It can be fruited with Excelsior, Eariy 
Hathaway or Fairfield. Some years with me it nas 
ripened with Excelsior, other years three or four days 
later. If grown thin as above directed it is a decidedly 
valuable market sort. 
SARATOG-A. — Originated by Wm. Palmer, of 
Saratoga Co., N. Y. It makes a 
vigorous growth of healthy, vigorous plants with a 
very dark green foliage. Not having thoroughly tested 
the variety myself, I will give Mr. Palmer’s descrip¬ 
tion : “I exhibited the Saratoga at the New York 
State Fair in September, 1906, one plant set in May, 
1906, with ordinary field culture, that had twenty-five 
good berries and several small ones. A portion of 
three acres was of this variety, cared for the same as 
the balance of the field. One picking at the height of 
the season yielded at the rate of 5,000 quarts per acre, 
maturing the last of the crop with Gandy. I have 
been testing it on different soils for three years with 
equally as good results. It has a perfect blossom, and 
is a cross of the Glen Mary and Sample, two of the 
leading all-around berries. The flesh is deep red, a 
good shipper, and medium to late in season.” 
PRIDE OF CUMBERLAND— Originated i n 
... New Jersey, 
lhe berry is brilliant red and holds its luster and 
freshness a long time after being picked. It is so at¬ 
tractive that it always brings the highest price in mar¬ 
ket. Where everything is favorable it is very produc¬ 
tive, very firm and good quality. It is a strong stami- 
nate variety and an excellent variety to plant with me¬ 
dium to late pistillate sorts. Were it not for the fact 
that its blossoms are easily injured by unfavorable 
weather, I think this would become one of the leading 
market berries, but owing to the tender blossoms, the 
yield is frequently not as large as it should be, but, as 
stated above, very productive when everything is fa¬ 
vorable. 
EARLY HATHAWAY. This seems to be so 
near Texas that we 
have discontinued to offer the latter variety. My im¬ 
pression is that no one could tell the difference grow¬ 
ing side by side. Under favorable conditions I find 
that it gives a very good crop of excellent berries early 
in the season. It is a strong staminate variety and is 
a good one for fruiting early pistillates. 
ENHANCE. — Berries somewhat irregular in shape, 
large, firm, season late. An excel¬ 
lent variety for pollenizing late pistillate varieties. 
Foliage is very rich light green, and while I have grown 
it for fifteen years, I do not remember of ever seeing a 
spot of rust on it. This is quite a favorite on the Pa¬ 
cific Coast. We have a nice stock of plants and will be 
pleased to furnish all those who admire this good old 
variety. 
IN ELEGANT SHAPE. ^ 
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Multnomah Co., Ore., Feb. 26, 1909. 
W. F. Allen, Salisbury, Md. 
Dear Sir—Strawberry plants arrived today 
in elegant shap.e; are good plants. Thanks for 
promptness. E. J. LADD. 
