Nineteen Hundred and Nine 
OR the twenty-fourth time I am handing 
you my Spring Catalogue, and in doing 
E? W 80 we be ^ in another chapter in life’s 
If 11 history. Let us work with all . f our 
9 JJ might to make this chapterof 1909 more 
interesting than any that has preceded 
it: and we must not lose sight of the 
—' fact that to be the most interesting to 
YOU and ME it must be the most suc¬ 
cessful; and with that end in view I extend to you the 
right hand of fellowshi », and promise to do everything 
in my power to make it such. 
Notwithstanding we have had a very dry summer, 
which has extended over a greater part of the country 
and cut short the usual supply of plants, I am pleased to 
be able to report that, with persistent cultivation, liberal 
fertilization and a somewhat increased acreage, my stock 
of plants will compare very favorably with that of last 
season in both quality and quantity. 1 am short on some 
few varieties, but of nearly all of the standard sorts 
the money-makers) 1 have a good, substantial supply, 
and also of most of the most promising new ones My 
facilities for serving you were never better I use the 
lightest packages consistent with safe carriage, and I 
use the best grade of Jersey moss, which is the cleanest 
and best to be had. This is bought by the carload and 
placed under cover where it is moistened just right— 
neither too wet nor too dry. This makes lighter packing, 
less express charges, and insures your plants to arrive in 
much better condition than where soggy wet moss is 
used. The past season 1 have succeeded in pleasing 
ninety nine out of every hundred customers, and I am 
going to try hard this year to please the hnndredth one. 
I have the goods and the facilities for handling them, 
and while I do not claim that I can absolutely please 
everybody. T do believe \ can come as near it as anybody 
in this business. May I have your orders for 1909 ? 
Before closing T want to thank everybody who so 
kindly favored me with their orders las' year. It is 
gratifying to be able to say that 1908 was far ahead of any 
previous year in the sales of plants, seeds, etc., and with 
your help and continued patronage, which T shall strive 
hard to merit, T expect to advance another step up the 
ladder of progress during 1909. Jt is my earnest wish 
that each of tne 50,000 persons who receive this catalogue 
may have a prosperous year 
Thanking you all most sincerely for past favors, and 
anticipating with much pleasure ihat I may soon be per 
mitted to serve you again I remain. 
Yours very respectfully, 
W. F. ALLEN, Salisbury, Md. 
PLEASE READ THIS TWICE 
I want your order for strawberry plants, but I want t 
at the right time, when I know that I can serve you 
equally as well as anyone, and better than a great major¬ 
ity in the business. When is the right time? Any time 
after November 1st until May 1st. March and A pril, the 
great planting season, almost our entire attention and 
that of over a hundred employees is given up to filling 
plant orders, and we want to fill yours. 
From May 1st to May 10th we will fill a limited number 
of orders on any stock that is unsold and put in the very 
best possible order, but at purchaser’s risk as to results. 
After May 10th—during June, July, August, Septem¬ 
ber, and October before the 15th—we most positively will 
not fill any orders for small-fruit plants. (This does not 
apply to vegetable plants.) 
We are willing to answer any questions during the 
summer months as promptly as possible, if written in a 
short letter and to the point. Long letters are subject to 
long delays. This notice was made necessary from the 
fact that we receive hundreds of orders for strawberry 
plants during the summer months when we have no 
plants in fit condition to transplant, and when not one in 
ten could make even good plants grow if we could send 
them, unless it were potted plants, which we do not grow 
at all. Thanking you for yourattention, 1 remain. 
Yours faithfully, 
W. F. ALLEIN, 
Salisbury, Md. 
PRIVET (For Hedging). 
CALIFORNIA PRIVET .— I have an excellent 
stock of one-year-old California Privet. It is strong, 
healthy and well-rooted, just the right size to plant for 
best results; makes beautiful, ornamental hedge, 15 to 
18 inch, heavy rooted : $1.50 per 100 ; $12.50 per 1,000. 
No extra charge for boxing. 
AMOOR RIVER PRIVET.— The Amoor River 
Privet has a dense, broad, bushy habit, but is more 
growing, produces the same pretty flower-clusters, and 
best of all, is evergreen in all except the coldest cli¬ 
mates and highest altitudes. For more than 30 years 
it has been cultivated extensively, holding its own 
against all rivals as the most beautiful and hardy ever¬ 
green hedge plant. It has stood 20 degrees below zero 
weather in the higher Alleghanies, and this, together 
with the fact that is equally successful in Southern 
Florida, proves that it can endure extremes of both 
heat and cold. It grows fast either in sun or shade, 
bears clipping back to a compact, glossy, solid surface, 
and shearing into fantastic shapes, arches, pillars, etc. 
No other hedge plant except the boxwood can compare 
with it for rich, all-the-year-round beauty. It has 
been difficult to supply the demand for this privet, and 
I am able to offer it for the first time this spring. 
Price, 15 to 20 inches, one year, heavy rooted, $2.00 
per 100; $17.50 per M. 
SPIREA. 
SPIREA VAN HOUTII. The great clusters 
of single white flowers follow the curves of the slender 
branches closely, weighting them down to the ground. 
A beautiful shrub. I have an elegant stock of strong, 
well-rooted plants at 25c. each, or $2.00 per dozen. 
