W. F. Allen’s Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md, 
25 
A Few Final Words That We May Understand 
Each Other Better. 
In describing so many varieties of strawber¬ 
ries, it is a very hard proposition to do so with¬ 
out there being a great deal of sameness about it 
I know on this account that the descriptions in 
catalogues are severely criticized, and often, no 
doubt, justly so. But as a rule I believe that 
catalogue descriptions are intended to be truth¬ 
ful and honest, and I have often thought I would 
like to see a catalogue describing a hundred or 
more varieties of strawberries, for instance, writ¬ 
ten by any one of a great majority of those who 
are so free to criticize others. I doubt if any 
one can give the accurate description of a hun¬ 
dred varieties of strawberries all from his per¬ 
sonal observation. Of the few persons who have 
the opportunity to see a large number o varie¬ 
ties in fruit, it would be difficult to find one who 
has the ability and the confidence of the public 
that could take the time just at that season of 
the year to take notes on a large list of varieties, 
as it takes considerable time, and to catch all the 
varieties at the same stage of maturity they 
would have to be gone over several times. I 
know with myself it would be almost impossible. 
To illustrate: The past season, after serving 
several thousand customers with strawberry 
plants, orders ranging from a few dozen to sev¬ 
eral hundred thousand, all of which has my per¬ 
sonal superintendence, I shipped to Northern 
markets 75,000 quarts of strawberries, 25,000 
quarts of dewberries, 4,100 half-barrels cucum¬ 
bers, 1,700 six-gallon crates of peaches, 35 car¬ 
loads of cantaloupes, 34 carloads of watermelons. 
The work of superintending the growing, pick, 
ing, packing and marketing of virtually a hun¬ 
dred carloads of perishable produce is no small 
task. Yet it has been done satisfactorily and 
profitably the past season, and more will be un¬ 
dertaken next year. I have just completed hous¬ 
ing over 2,000 bushels sweet potatoes, and I am 
now, at this writing (November 18) busily en¬ 
gaged in planting strawberry plants. Every day 
this winter when the ground is not frozen we 
will be setting strawberry plants, until 100 acres 
are planted, the product of a greater part of 
which will be required to fill my plant orders in 
the spring of 1909. Why do I plant in the fall 
and winter? So that I can get it done and out 
of the way, in order that I may give my un¬ 
divided attention to filling orders for strawberry 
plants during March and April. 
Now, to go back to the question of descriptions, 
I write from observation of the different varie¬ 
ties as I have found them during the busy season, 
from daily contact in handling and marketing. 
On those varieties which I have not fruited, or 
have not seen enough of to justify an opinion, I 
quote the descriptions of the best authority I 
can get. I do not want you to think for a moment 
that I guarantee these descriptions either those 
I give myself or those I quote, to always fit the 
varieties as you will find them. Why? Because 
a change of location or change of soil makes so 
much difference in strawberries that to do so 
would be impossible. The descriptions are given 
to help you all we can to select what would be 
best for you. The information given is the best 
I can get from my own observation and that of= 
others with experience, and is the same that de¬ 
termines my own operations. The kind that Is 
best with me may not be of much value to you, 
and your favorite may be worthless to me. Thus 
you find some champion of almost every variety. 
Consequently, in reading descriptions, Mr. A. will 
say that Climax is the best, Mr. B. will say that 
Klondyke is the best, and Mr. C. will be very 
emphatic in his opinion that some other kind is 
best Each one is honest in his belief, but while 
almost every variety is best with some one, no 
variety is best with every one. This is why we 
carry such a long list. I want to especially urge 
all progressive growers to test for themselves a 
number of varieties every year. Set apart a row 
or two in your patch every year for this purpose 
and plant 12 or 25 each of several kinds that you 
have not already fruited. You will find it very 
interesting, and you may find something that just 
suits you for larger planting. 
Several collections have been arranged for 
those who wish to do some experimenting on 
their own account, and I venture to say that no 
one who does so will ever regret it. 
Now, friends, I have tried to be candid and 
honest with you, and if you approve of my course 
I should appreciate very much to do business 
with you. Those who have been dealing with me 
know what kind of plants I send out, and I am 
vain enough to believe they will continue to 
patronize me. To those who have not dealt with 
me I want to ask, Won’t you try me once? If 
my plants are not as satisfactory in every way as 
any you ever got elsewhere, I shall not expect 
you to continue to buy from me, but I believe if 
you will let me fill one order for you, in nine 
cases out of ten I will get the second, the third, 
and so on. Try it and see if we are not mutually 
benefited. 
With many thanks to those who have given me 
such liberal patronage in the past, and assuring 
them that I shall ever strive to merit a continu¬ 
ance of their patronage and good will, I remain, 
Yours very truly, 
W. F. ALLEN. 
November 17, 1907. 
sMARYLANDs 
CERTIFICATE OF NURSERY INSPECTION. 
No Z£- 
Zo TlHlbom ft.flfa;'Concern: 
THIS IS TO CERTIFY. That o 
we examined t far Nursery Stock of 
growing - nurseries at... 
County State of Maryland,in accordance with the laws of 
Maryland;1898, Chapter g89, Section 58, and that said nurserietawd premises are 
apparently free, to far as. can be determined by inspection, from.the San Jose Scale, 
Peach. Yellowy. Pear Blight and other dangerously injurious insect pests and 
plant diseases. 
This certificate is invalid after ST., and does not 
include nursery stock not grown within this Sfatc\unless such stock is previously 
covered by certificate ahd accepted by theStatV^^cObjpgistand State Pathologist. 
(ottege Paa-k, Md., 
