Nineteen Hundred and Twelve 
WENTY-SEVEN years ago, I started in the plant business on a small scale. My desire 
to please and satisfy my customers is the same today as it was when I first began, and I attrib¬ 
ute my success to this fact. Many of my customers who bought from me when I first com¬ 
menced business are still sending me their orders. Your order of a dime receives the same 
attention as an order for several hundred dollars, and is filled with exactly the same quality 
of selected plants. 
My plant business is constantly growing, and so rapidly that it keeps me on the hustle to keep pace 
with it. “There Must Be a Reason.” I have 120 acres in strawberry plants alone for plant stock in order 
to take care of my large trade this year. Blackberry, raspberry, currant and gooseberry plants and grape¬ 
vines are profitable for my customers and worth growing. It takes many thousands of these plants every 
year to supply my constantly increasing trade. 
Ornamental shrubbery and hedge plants, the things that help so much to beautify your home sur¬ 
roundings and make them pleasant and worth while, are getting to be no small part of my business. My 
whole business career has been filled with the desire to please my customers—the only way to build up a 
prosperous and thrifty business. Thanking you for many past favors and trusting to merit continuance 
of your patronage, I remain, wishing you a most prosperous year, 
Yours faithfully, W. F. ALLEN 
Please Read This, and Then, Please Read It Again 
We fill strawberry-plant and other small-fruit-plant and shrubbery orders any time after November 1, 
during November, December, January, February, March, April and until May 1. From May 1 to May 
10 we will fill a limited number of orders on any stock that is unsold and put it in the very best possible 
order, but at purchaser’s risk as to results. 
After May 10, and during June, July, August, September and October, we most positively will not 
fill any orders for small-fruit plants. (This, however, does not apply to vegetable or flower plants.) 
During March and April, the great planting season, almost our entire attention and that of over one 
hundred employees is given up to filling plant orders. 
We are willing to answer any questions during the summer months as promptly as possible if written 
in a short style 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. 
ARYLAND 
IMPORTANT TO CUSTOMERS 
Orders should be sent in just as soon as possible after receiving this catalogue. It is better for you 
as well as for the nurseryman. 
Remit by Money Order, Registered Letter or Bank Draft; Postage Stamps will be accepted for the 
fractional parts of a dollar, the larger denominations preferred. Foreign customers will please send Money 
Order on Salisbury, Md., or Bank Draft payable in New York. 
Time of Shipment. From the time you receive this catalogue to May 1. By far the larger part of 
our shipments are made during March and April. Bermuda, Cuba, Florida, California and other similarly 
located sections are supplied any time in the fall and winter after November 1. 
True To Name. While I use every precaution to have all plants, etc., true to name (and I believe we 
come as near doing this as any one in the business), I will not be responsible for any sum greater than the 
cost of the stock, should any prove otherwise than as represented. 
Guarantee. I guarantee plants ordered by mail or express to reach customers in good condition when 
promptly taken from the express office and opened 
at once. 
Claims, if any, must be made on receipt of 
goods. I cannot become responsible for stock that is 
allowed to lay around your station or express office, 
for neglect of purchaser or his employees to care for 
stock after it has been received, or for misfortunes 
caused by droughts, floods, frosts, insects, etc. These 
things are entirely beyond my control. 
At Purchaser’s Risk. Plants shipped by freight 
will be at purchaser’s risk, and all small-fruit plants 
shipped after May 1 will be packed and shipped in best 
condition possible, but always at purchaser’s risk. 
Packing. I make no charges for boxing or 
packing at rates quoted in this catalogue. Every¬ 
thing is delivered f. o. b. trains at rates named. 
Our prices include the packing and the package. 
Twenty-five. All plants are tied twenty-five in 
a bundle. 
Payment. Invariably, cash in advance. It is 
my desire that all customers should have the very 
best of success and, strange as it may seem, plants 
that are not paid for seldom do well. 
CERTIFICATE OF NURSERY INSPECTION 
No. //T-— 
(Id ®lintn 3t fHag (Hmtrmt: 
THIS IS TO CERTIFY. That on the ^. 3 Jay of 191 f we examined 
the Nursery Stock of ... 
growing tn . nurseries at .. 
County of One L £cXState of Maryland, in accordance with the iJtvs of Maryland, 1898. Chaptb 
be determined by 
tout insect firsts 
289, SECTION 58. and that said nurseries and premises are apparently free, so far as 
inspection, from the San Jose Scale, Peach Yellows, Pear Blight and other dangerously 
and plant diseases ^ 
Thu Certijicale is invalid after — J9l’\. and does not include nursery ttock 
not grown within this State, unless such (stock y previously covered by certificate and accepted by the State 
Entomologist and State Pathologut. 
•College Park. Mo. 
