16 
W. F. Allen’s Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md. 
EXCELSIOR .—There is not a strawberry 
earlier than Excelsior in 
cultivation. The berries are medium to medium 
large in size and very productive, and one of 
the best shipping berries. I have grown this in 
a large field that would average over 5',000 
quarts to the acre. This has been a very popu¬ 
lar standard sort for quite a number of years 
the country over, and it is probably as largely 
grown n6w for market as any of the extra early 
varieties. After giving it half a chance it will 
take care of itself and bring splendid returns. 
It is too sour to suit the taste of the average 
person and has therefore never become popular 
for the home garden. As a first early shipping 
berry, however, it has few equals. Our demand 
for the plants of this variety has been large for 
years. It is the best of the old standard extra 
early market sorts. 
FENDALL.- This berry was received from 
the originator, Charles E. 
Fendall, of Baltimore Co.. Md., spring of 1908, 
and I have not yet had the opportunity of see¬ 
ing it in fruit. The plants have made an excep¬ 
tional fine growth with strong, healthy foliage 
which has made ample beds of vigorous, large 
plants. Mr. Fendall describes it as follows: 
“The plant is strong and vigorous, clean and 
healthy, growing at least two inches higher than 
any other variety I have in my garden. The 
foliage is a beautiful light, green, easily distin¬ 
guished from other varieties, and has not yet 
shown the slightest weakness in any respect. 
The berries are as large, if not larger, than any 
other variety, and unlike most large varieties, 
in that they are of delicious flavor. In length 
of season it is certainly remarkable. In 1906 
I picked berries from it on the 25th of May 
and the last on the 4th of July. In 1906 it 
yielded at the rate of 16,800 quarts per acre. 
It throw's out a great many runners, which root 
splendidly in a very short time; in fact, the 
roots of this variety excel anything I have ever 
seen in the strowberry line. The berries are 
perfect beauties, rich in color, smooth and 
glossy, with long stems and very large cap. 
The plant and fruit are bound to command at¬ 
tention wherever seen. More than fifty gentle¬ 
men have visited my garden during the season 
and all express their greatest astonishment at 
the wonderful productiveness, size and flavor of 
this wonderful berry.” 
OAK S EARLY.— Originated in Somerset Co., 
Md., by William Tull. It was 
found growing wild by the side of an oak stump in 
Mr. Tull’s field. The strong, vigorous growth of the 
plant attracted his attention. The plant was left 
standing and cultivated, except a part of them which 
were dug up and planted. Those that remained 
ripened an unusual large crop of excellent berries, 
corning in with Mitchell’s Early and Hoffman. It has 
fruited here twice. I find it nearly as early 
as the Excelsior, equally as productive, and 
firm enough for a good shipping berry. It 
makes lots of good, strong, vigorous plants, 
not large, but very hardy, and a persistent 
grower. This should prove a valuable va¬ 
riety w’here extra early berries are wanted 
for long shipment. In a letter from Mr. A. 
H. Walker, Mardela Springs. Md., Septem¬ 
ber 21st, he says: “The Oak’s Early were 
very nice and stood the late frost remark¬ 
ably well. I found it to be the nicest of 
the varieties I bought of you, all things con¬ 
sidered.” 
MAMMOTH BEAUTY.—I n troduced 
b v Charles 
Pratt and claimed to be one of the most 
profitable berries in Western Massachusetts. 
It is a pistillate variety, and the foliage 
very much resembles the old Haverland, but 
is claimed to be much better. A grower in 
Western Massachusetts, who recommended 
this variety, does not grow plants for sale, 
and has no interest whatever in booming it. 
I have only fruited this in a small way and 
find it very satisfactory. I haven’t a large 
stock of plants, but enough to go around in 
a small way for trial, and I strongly recom¬ 
mend it for that purpose. I have no doubt 
many of our customers would find this an 
exceedingly valuable addition to their list. 
? 
t 
I 
Jg y° l,r plants lieat the pedigree plants, 
I 
THEY BEAT PEDIGREE 
PLANTS. 
Knox Co., Tenn.. Jan. 23, 1908. 
W. F. Allen, Salisbury, Md. 
Dear Sir—Strawberry plants bought 
of you last year did fine. With me 
with ordinary field culture. 
Yours truly, WILL MASTERSON. 
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