2 
THE W. F. ALLEN CO., SALISBURY, MD. 
A PERSONAL WORD—1920 
N EVER since we have been presenting a Book of 
Berries to you each year, has the prospect been bet¬ 
ter for Profitable Strawberry Growing. On page 4 we 
have outlined our reasons for believing this and we be¬ 
lieve those best posted on the situation will agree 
with us. 
A few years ago we were growing strawberry plants, 
grape vines, blackberry, raspberry, gooseberry, currant 
plants, California privet and a line of shrubbery. Since 
then we have been gradually dropping our other nur¬ 
sery lines and specializing on Strawberry plants. We 
are trying to do this one thing in the nursery line and 
do it just a little better than the other fellow. We 
were never in better position to take care of orders in 
good shape. Mr. W. F. Allen and three of his sons put 
all of their time on the work, as most of our old cus¬ 
tomers know. In plant shipping season two of the sons 
are in the packing house nearly all the time and they 
pack all of the express orders themselves. The third 
son packs the mail orders. We believe the fact that 
all the plants are handled by those vitally interested in 
building up the business, who can name 4 out of 5 varie¬ 
ties by the look of the foliage and roots, and who know 
by years of experience how to pack and handle plants, 
we believe these facts enable us to give unsurpassed 
service. We have the soil and climate, we have the 
organization, and we shall certainly do our utmost to 
merit any business you may send us. 
Here’s hoping all our old friends and the new ones 
we hope to make, may have a very prosperous and 
happy year. 
Yours very truly, 
THE W. F. ALLEN CO. 
INSTRUCTIONS TO PURCHASERS 
ORDER AT ONCE. As soon as convenient after re¬ 
ceiving this catalog. Late in the season we may be 
sold out of some varieties, but if ordered early the 
plants are reserved for you, to be shipped at proper 
time for planting. This is especially important this 
year when high prices for berries have made such a big 
demand for plants. Reports we have from growers all 
over the country indicate that the crop is almost as 
short as last year’s exceedingly short supply, with more 
than twice the demand. To be doubly sure of getting 
just what you want when you want it, ORDER EARLY. 
REMIT by Money Order, Registered Letter, or Bank 
Draft. Postage Stamps will be accepted for the frac¬ 
tional parts of a dollar, the larger denominations pre¬ 
ferred. Foreign customers will please send Money 
Order on Salisbury, Maryland, or Bank Draft payable 
in New York. 
WRITE PLAINLY. Fill in all blanks on the order 
sheet, as they are necessary for proper shipment, es¬ 
pecially your name and address. When writing in 
reference to an order, give its number and give your 
name the same as was sent on the order. 
TIME OF SHIPMENT. We commence to fill fall 
orders November 1 and ship all winter to sections 
where the conditions are suitable for fall and winter 
planting, as in California and some parts of the South. 
Early spring, March and April, is by far the best time 
to set Strawberry plants in the middle and northern 
