W. F. Allen’s Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md. 
29 
THREE W’S. —Originated with W. W. Wallace, of 
Tennessee. It is said to be a 
chance seedling found in 1901 growing wild along the 
railroad. The first fifteen plants which were found 
were transplanted into a garden and produced (500 
plants the first year. In 1902 the original fifteen 
plants are claimed to have produced one quart of berries 
to the plant and 25,000 plants were grown from the 
600 which were transplanted. In 1904 Three W’s won 
highest prize at the World’s Fair at St. Louis and 
made a record of keeping ten days. In 1905 it is said 
to have stood the freeze of April 15 and 16 and made 
a big crop of large berries, while other standard varie¬ 
ties only produced about 25 per cent, of a crop. The 
foliage is beautiful, clean and healthy, dark green in 
color and very attractive. I consider it a very promis¬ 
ing variety. The fruit is large, fyne quality and very 
productive, covering a long season from medium early 
to late. It is quite firm and a great keeper. Berries 
picked on Monday and shipped 500 miles to the St. 
Louis Exposition were placed on plates Wednesday 
morning. Late Friday afternoon out of eleven plates 
only seven berries could be found that were not in 
good condition. Part of these berries were on exhibi¬ 
tion until the following Thursday. Three W’s has 
made an excellent wide matted row the past season 
notwithstanding the continued dry weather. The plants 
are very large and stalky, amply able to produce a big 
crop. Our sales on this variety last season were very 
large, and during the last of April we had to turn 
down many orders. We hope this year to be able to 
supply the demand, although if ordered as freely as 
last season we may not have enough to see us through. 
MIXED PLANTS .— It has not been our custom 
to offer mixed plants, but 
it sometimes happens that a plot will be accidentally 
mixed so that we cannot dig plants from it true to 
name. Such plots have to be left for fruiting. At 
other times, in getting ’up large orders, it frequently 
happens that more plants of some variety are taken 
up than we have immediate orders for. Such plants 
we can afford to sell at a discount, as if more happen 
to be dug than we have orders for we would sooner 
sell them at a lower price than lose them, or if we 
have a mixed plot from which we cannot fill orders 
we could afford to sell these at a low price rather 
than not sell them at all. From such stock as mixed 
plots and left-over lots, any orders for mixed plants 
would be filled and at the price quoted. We cannot 
guarantee or even have suggested what the varieties 
will be. Parties ordering mixed plants, however, may 
designate whether they want early, medium or late 
varieties, as we can usually govern this part of it. 
Sometimes the plants with which these orders are 
filled may contain a portion labeled true to name 
where the order is filled from left-over lots. I do not 
know whether anyone would be interested in this kind 
of stock, but if so we can take care of a limited num¬ 
ber of orders at the reduced rate named in price list. 
OUR STRAWBERRY DESCRIPTIONS 
are true and correct to the best of my knowledge 
and according to the best information I have 
been able to obtain. There is hardly a doubt 
that every variety on our list has done extra if 
not better than any other variety for someone, 
but they will not all be best with you; the one 
that is best with you this year, may not be next. 
You must remember there is a great variation 
in varieties of strawberries in different seasons 
and in different localities or sometimes even in 
the same locality. Our descriptions are given to 
help you in your selection all that we can, but 
we do not guarantee that any variety will do 
for you as it has for us or for anyone else; this 
must, in a great measure, be determined by your 
own growing and cultivation on your own soil. 
I have often recommended, and still insist, that 
every strawberry grower should plant a small 
quantity, say 25 or 100 each of several different 
varieties every year, and thereby know for your¬ 
self what is best for you to plant. This does not 
cost much and will give you better information 
than any one can possibly tell you. Now, friends, 
I have tried td give you straightforward', reliable 
descriptions that will help in your selections, and 
have given you what I believe to be good advice, 
candid and on the square, and now I shall appre¬ 
ciate it very much if I am favored with your 
orders for whatever you may need in my line. 
Those who have been dealing with me know 
what kind of plants I send out, and you who 
have not dealt with me, I want you to first 
read the testimonials scattered through this cata¬ 
logue and then send me your order and I will 
try and treat you so well you will feel like they 
do; so well pleased, you will want to write and 
tell me about it. If intrusted with a trial order, 
l think I can prove to you that no better plants 
are to be had anywhere at any price. I shall 
not expect you to continue to deal with me 
unless I can show you that it is to your inter¬ 
est to do so. Let me have your order this 
year and see if we are not mutually benefited. 
With best wishes, and many thanks to those 
who have given me such liberal patronage in the 
past, and promising you I will always try to 
merit your confidence and good will, I remain 
Yours faithfully. 
W. E. Allen. 
