2 
W. F. Allen’s Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md. 
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CHESAPEAKE. — This 
new berry was first offered by 
me in very small quantities in 
1005. It was originated almost 
in sight of the Chesapeake Bay, 
from which it takes its name. 
It is one of the results of the 
$100.00 prize offer which I have 
been making several years for 
the best dozen plants. This 
variety easily took the premium, 
although there were over a 
hundred in competition with it, 
many of which were really good. This variety is as 
late as the Gandy and more productive ; furthermore, 
it will thrive and bear an elegant crop on soil entirely 
too light to produce good Gandy berries. It is equal 
to the Gandy in size, superior to it in firmness and 
shipping qualities, and in eating qualities the Gandy 
is no comparison. In flavor it ranks with William 
Belt, Brunette and others of that class. Therefore, in 
the Chesapeake we *have attained to a greater degree 
than in any other variety three of the strongest points 
that go to make up a valuable commercial berry— 
these are firmness, quality and lateness. When these 
good points are added to the fact that it is of uni¬ 
formly large size, very attractive in appearance and 
being one of the most haalttoy and vigorous growers, 
puts it nearer perfection than has yet been reached by 
any other berry, and I can conscientiously say th*t 
if it succeeds in other sections as it does here it Is the 
best strawberry in the world today. I fruited over 
two acres the past season and the berries were moitlv 
all shipped to Boston, with the exception of a few 
sample crates to New York. In every instance they 
brought the top market price, selling one week straight 
at seventeen cents, which was from two to three cents 
more than the best Gandy berries were bringing at the 
same time. Every one who saw it, both growers and 
dealers in the fruit, were very enthusiastic. The plant it 
a strong, upright grower with thick, leathery and 
very dark green foliage; leaves are almost round and 
entirely free from rust. The stems or fruit stalks arc 
upright and unusually strong, holding almost the en¬ 
tire crop from the ground. This variety, in addition 
to its other good qualities, is unusually easy to pick, 
and therefore very attractive to pickers, making it 
easi.M- to get them handled than any other variety. 
• ,° ? f ^ y boys the P ast season, one 13 years old, 
picked 201 quarts in one day, and the other 11 year* 
old, picked 128 quarts, and this in a patch that had 
no special care above the ordinary field culture, that 
were grown in soil of only moderate fertility and no 
fertilizer whatever. 
J ai ’£ e operator at this place, who has several 
hundred acres grown for him on contract every year 
who has been planting large quantities of Gandy here¬ 
tofore. has been watching the Chesapeake very closely 
and says he will use it In the future altogether instead 
of the Gandy. 
The plants are still very scarce and the price some¬ 
what higher than most varieties in third year, 'and 
yet I doubt very much that it will he possible to fill 
all the orders, as I shall need 250,000 for my own 
individual use. 1 advise all my customers to en¬ 
deavor to get a few plants, if only a hundred, as I 
know you will he pleased with them. Those who pro¬ 
cured It last season are very fortunate indeed. It is 
one of the few new varieties that has come to stay, 
and m a very short time will he a standard all over 
the country. 
S TRY ME AGAIN. 
Hocking Co., Ohio, May 8, 1907. 
v. W. F. Ai i.kx — 
at Dear Sir—I received the Strawberry Plants 
Si Saturday afternoon, May 4, in good condi- 
«: tlon, for which please accept thanks. 
% Yours truly, George Eisz. | 
