20 
W. F. Allen's Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md, 
OAK’S EARLY.— 
Fruited with me the first 
time the past season. I 
found it fully as early as 
the Excelsior, equally as 
productive and firm enough 
for a good shipper. it 
makes lots of vigorous 
plants, not large, but very 
hardy, and a persistent 
grower. This should prove 
a valuable variety where 
extra early berries are de¬ 
sirable. 
The Oak’s Early was 
found in an adjoining 
county, growing wild by the 
side of an oak stump in 
the cornfield on Mr. Wm. 
Tull’s farm. The strong, 
vigorous growth of the plant 
attracted Mr. Tull’s atten¬ 
tion. The plant was left 
standing and cultivated. The 
plants were so promising 
that a part of them were 
dug and planted ; those that 
remained ripened an unusu 
ally large crop of best her 
ries, coming in with Mitch¬ 
ell's Early and Hoffman, 
resembling the latter cele 
brated variety, but far su 
perior to it in many re 
apects, being a much better 
grower and three times as> 
productive. The berry is 
beautiful in appearance and 
has a large green cap. Mr. 
Tull has propagated this 
variety for several years 
and it has proven a gold 
mine to him, having cleared 
nearly double the amount 
he paid for his farm three 
years ago. It is rumored 
that his farm was heavily 
mortgaged, and that his 
prospects looked very 
gloomy until he found this 
berry, which has more than paid all his indebtedness. 
Three crops have been marketed, none o" which have 
been shipped on commission, because the buyers have 
greedily bought them, always giving the highest mar¬ 
ket prices at the station. Individual farmers have tried 
three years to buy plants of this variety from Mr. Tull, 
but he steadfastly refused to sell any until *lie spring 
of 1905r I have a beautiful supply of plants 
PRIDE OP CUMBERLAND. - 1 -Brilliant red 
OAK'S EARLY 
TEXAS. —This berry is irom Texas, for which 
State it is named. It is firm enough to 
ship, but not quite as dark in color as Excelsior, and in 
many respects a very desirable variety ; no rust rather 
than disease seems to affect it. Under certain climatic 
conditions it has a tendency to bear considerable fruit 
in the fall, the same as Senator Dunlap. It was intro¬ 
duced by Jacob C. Bauer, of .Tudsonia, Ark., who sent 
out the Excelsior. Mr. Bauer died last year of a cancer. 
in color and 
holds its lustre and freshness for a long time after tak¬ 
ing from the vines. It grows well on any soil, but gives 
better results on springy, rich land. The worst that 
can be said about it is that its blossom blights very 
easily, and for this reason it often fails to produce 
good crops. Where everything is favorable it is very 
productive and very firm quality, ships well, and brings 
the highest price in market. 
PROF. FISHER— This is another of Joseph H. 
Black’s seedlings, and is de¬ 
scribed by the Rural New Yorker as follows : “Late and 
coming in with the Gandy, plants vigorous, tall, broad 
foliage. The berry is large, sometimes cockscombed, 
smooth, round, of good qualities, but hot very firm. 
It matures its whole crop in a very shoFt time.*’ 
With me it has hardly been satisfactory, and is not a 
variety that I would recommend planting, unless you 
have first tried It yourself. 
RELIANCE. —Introduced by Peter Henderson & 
Co. This is their description : “A 
•seedling of the Mary crossed with Marshall, very large 
in size and a perfect blossom. It resembles the Mary 
somewhat In shape, the color is almost perfect; very 
fine quality, Juicy and luscious and solid to the center. 
The growth is fair, large, deep green, handsome foliage, 
and the fruit is borne on long stalks in great profu¬ 
sion.” My personal experience with this variety is 
that it makes a rather weak growth, but is a variety of 
excellent qualities for the home table, and ripens very 
early for a large berry. Its table qualities are excel¬ 
lent. 
RIDGEWAY. — This is no favorite of mine. 
Claimed to be a very excellent 
late berry, and I presume gives satisfaction to some 
growers. It has never amounted to much here, and I 
only plant a few to supply some customers who call 
for it. 
THOMPSON’S NO. 2.—Originated by Mark T. 
Thompson, near Rich¬ 
mond, Va. This variety has made a vigorous, healthy 
growth here, and its firm, dark green foliage makes a 
beautiful showing. The originator describes it thus : 
“Large size, beautiful color, having the appearance of 
being varnished, large double cap like the Gandy ; very 
productive, and bears through a long season; very 
richest and best quality, and one of the best shippers, 
having a tough skin not easily broken by handling. It 
retains its beautiful dark green foliage all through the 
season without a spot of rust,and has a perfect blossom.” 
UNCLE JIM. —Makes a strong, healthy growth of 
large -foliage similar to New York. 
It is said to be a chance seedling found near an old 
fruiting patch by Mr. Jim Dornan in Michigan some 
six or seven years ago, where 15 to 25, if grown under 
favorable conditions, will usually fill a quart. This 
is an excellent berry for growers who want a fancy, 
large berry for home use or nearby market. I would 
hardly advise it for shipping purposes. 
5 GOOD ENOUGH TO R^IAD TWICE. $ 
6 Cheshire Co., N. H., May 24, 1907. % 
>k W. F. Allen, Dear Sir : The 5,000 strawberry % 
* plants shipped me April 22 arrived at my sta- & 
& tion the 24th. I thank you for the extra care % 
% you gave my order. The plants were nicely 
packed, and an extra nice lot of plants. Nearly 
Jg every plant lived and they are growing finely. I 
^ have just finished cultivating and hoeing for the 
first time. Any one wanting good plants and a 
S square deal will make no mistake in sending 
‘S their order to W. F. Allen, Salisbury, Md. When 
-p I want more plants I shall send my order to you 
surely. Very truly yours, ,T. E. SHELDON. 
