2<S W. F. Allen’s Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md. 
SAMPLE.— Originated by Mr. J. D. Gowing, of 
Reading. Mass. I visited Mr. Gow- 
ing's farm and saw the Sample in fruiting the first sea¬ 
son. I was so favorably impressed with it that I paid 
$200.00 for 1,000 plants, and it seems that my judg¬ 
ment of the berry at first sight was not misplaced, as 
it has become a great standard variety. Several times 
I have been unable to supply the demand, and it seems 
to be giving satisfaction all over the country, which is 
the best test of its popularity. We get more and more 
orders every year, and if it were not a good one this 
would not be the case. It is one of the best for the 
experienced growers, and a safe one for the inexperi¬ 
enced. It has been termed by some as a mortgage 
lifter: at any rate, it is too good to be omitted by 
large or small growers. It has extra large blooms for 
a pistillate and is so hardy, is seldom damaged by frost. 
The berries are large, bright red, and have a smooth, 
glossy appearance. The Sample is not only one of the 
most beautiful late berries, but one of the largest and 
most prolific ; the berries lie in piles along the rows 
and are so uniform that it is seldom necessary to sort 
them, even by those who practice doing so. It is very 
seldom that we see a berry ripen so evenly. It is an 
excellent shipper and a good canner, and delicious for 
all table purposes. This is why it is so popular in the 
commercial world. A Pennsylvania customer writes: 
“The Sample is as near my standard of large, firm, 
fancy berries as can be grown.” Another Pennsylvania 
grower writes : “The Glen Mary and Sample were a 
little the best. The Sample was the largest and the 
Glen Mary the most productive, but they both done 
well.” A Massachusetts grower writes : “I am trying 
to grow the best berries that can be put on the Milford 
market, and I am coming pretty near doing so. The 
grocerymen, who increase their orders every year, all 
swear by the Sample, and it is a grand berry. Fine 
heavy-rooted plants and are able to stand the dry 
weather; foliage green and healthy; berries large and 
dark red, every one the same shape, and they grow 
very large with me. It is my first choice.” A Missouri 
customer has this to say : “I had the Good Luck with 
the Sample berries; I like them better than any other 
kinds.” , 
NICK OHMER. Introduced by M. Crawford, of 
Ohio, and originated with Nich¬ 
olas Ohmer, of the same State. This berry has a 
strong, perfect blossom, and is productive of rich, dark 
glossy red, globular berries, highly colored all the way 
through, and of superior flavor. It is a great market 
berry and a superb variety for the home table. Some 
large growers plant heavily of it. It does not seem 
to be a general favorite with the general mass of 
strawberry growers, but it is becoming especially de¬ 
sirable in the Southern States, especially Florida, 
where it is largely grown for the Northern markets. 
For the last two or three years we have not been able 
to supply enough plants for tliese sections. We have 
a better crop this season, however, and hope to more 
nearly take care of all orders, though we may be short 
late in the season. 
SPLENDID. A very productive variety of uni¬ 
form, medium size. This is another 
variety that must he kept thin in order to keep it from 
getting too thick on the row for best results, as it sure¬ 
ly will do if left to have its way. It has a strong 
staminate blossom and is a good one for pollenizing 
such pistillate varieties as Warfield, Crescent and 
others of that type. The berry is well named, for if 
properly grown in thinly matted row’s it is certainly 
“Splendid.” 
SUPERIOR. — Originated in Delaware, but the 
originator’s name is unknown to me. 
This variety is quite popular in some sections. The 
plants are strong, healthy growers, with dark, glossy, 
green foliage, W’hich succeeds on almost any soil and is 
immensely productive of small to medium berries, 
w’hich are firm and good keepers. Ripen about a week 
after Excelsior and continue to bear until late in the 
season. 
UNCLE JIM. — Originated by James Dornan, of 
Michigan, some eight or nine 
years ago. When well grown, fifteen to twenty will 
fill a quart. This is an excellent variety for growers 
who want a berry for home use or nearby market. It 
makes a strong, healthy plant, w’ith large foliage 
similar to New York. It is said to be a chance seed¬ 
ling and its parentage is not know’n. It is a good, 
reliable variety, and while it came from an entirely 
different source, I doubt that many growers could dis¬ 
tinguish it from New York either in plant or fruit 
growing side by side. 
MARSHALL. —This is a great fancy berry for 
the New England market. The 
grocers are alw r ays delighted to get it on account of 
its rich, dark red, glossy color, that is bound to at¬ 
tract and please customers. It is one of the richest 
flavored strawberries grown. It is a strictly fancy 
berry, not quite as productive as some other variety, 
but the large size of the berries go a long vyay toward 
making up for this in filling the quarts. 
SHARP! ESS .—This is one of the old favorites. 
The most of the demand at pres¬ 
ent is from old friends of the berry, who want a few 
for their garden. We have not a large stock of these, 
but think we can supply w’hat will be w’anted in a small 
way. Too well known to need description. 
❖ 
f ALWAYS FINE. 
V Oxford Co., Me., May 8, 1909. 
"V W. F. Allen, Salisbury, Md. 
X Dear Sir—Herewith find order for straw- 4 
jv berry plants. Kindly ship immediately. The 
X plants I have had of you in years past have 
X always been fine and I doubt not these will be 
the same. Very truly yours, 
ELMER V. AVALKER. 
% BEAUTIFUL CONDITION. 
Kershaw Co., S. C., March 16, 1909. 
W. F. Allen, Salisbury, Md. 
^ Dear Sir—The plants arrived in beautiful 
condition several days ago ; are set and grow- 
♦i. ing beautiful; have been getting plants for a 
% long time, but have never received such strong, 
well-rooted ones as yours. Can truly recom- 
mend your plants to anyone wanting the best. 
Yours very respectfully, 
f B. H. BAUER. 
