12 
THE W. F. ALLEN CO., SALISBURY, MD 
A field of our plants photographed in August, with the best half of the growing season ahead of them 
Why Allen’s Plants Are Superior 
i. Allen’s plants are grown in light, sandy loam 
soil. In this type of soil any plant will develop its 
root-system to the highest degree. Our Strawberry 
plants are no exception. They make many strong, 
fibrous roots of great length, in fact, a wonderful 
root-system. And having a light soil, we can dig 
the plants without breaking off any of the great 
bunch of roots. With plants grown in heavier soils, 
the roots cannot penetrate the earth and make the 
root-system they do here; and, even if they could, 
it would not avail in giving fine plants, as plants 
are not removed from heavy clay soils without 
breaking off many of the fibrous roots, the kind 
necessary to start plant growth. We repeat: The 
root-system of our Strawberry plants is never 
bettered, seldom equaled. 
READ WHAT OTHERS SAY 
April 22, 1916, Middlesex County, Mass. 
Dear Sirs: The Strawberry plants came to hand in excel¬ 
lent condition and were heeled-in this morning according to 
your directions. In twenty odd years’ experience with buying 
and setting out nursery stock of various kinds, I have never 
before received any plants which equaled those in quality and 
condition. At least half of the best lots of Strawberry plants 1 
we get from dealers in this region are sure to be old plants 
easily distinguished by their black roots. Most of them are 
equally sure to have at least half of their roots cut off. Among 
all your plants I did not find an old one nor one that does not 
retain all its roots to the very tip. How you can dig them—this 
is something I do not understand and wish you would tell me. 
I cannot do it when I move plants in my own beds. The pack¬ 
ing of your plants was the most perfect and intelligent of any 
I have ever seen. Perhaps you will not mind getting this 
expression of my appreciation. Yours truly, 
William Brewster. 
WHY SHOULDN’T THEY GROW? 
January 22, 1916, Union County, Ky. 
Gentlemen: Of the several hundred of some nine or ten 
varieties, I think almost every plant grew. And why shouldn’t 
they? Such strong, splendid, thrifty, heavily rooted plants I 
had never seen. I think every variety was true-to-name and 
such fine berries. They were the admiration of all who saw 
them, so much so that we sold our entire surplus at 12cents 
per quart-box at the farm. Yours very truly, 
W. B. Threlkeld. 
2. Allen’s plants, both crown and roots, are of the 
largest size. Of course, the plants of some varieties, 
like Chesapeake, Big Joe, and Glen Mary, are much 
larger than those of other varieties. We have a 
moderately long growing season—not long enough 
for a plant to wear itself out—but 
just long enough to reach its highest 
possible development in size, matur¬ 
ity, and root-system. As a valuable 
aid in securing such fine plants as 
we have, we might say that the 
grass is diligently kept pulled from 
our plant patches, and the plants 
are kept in good growing condition 
all the while by the manure we 
apply and by the thorough culti¬ 
vation which we give. Our plants 
are thoroughly hoed by hand and 
cultivated from eight to twelve 
times during the growing season. 
Plants grown as ours are make 
a good stand almost certain. Of 
course, in a good season almost any 
plant will grow. In a very severe 
drought any plant will have a 
hard time, but we can say that 
the large size, good roots, and great 
vitality of our plants are a form of 
insurance worth in itself the cost of 
the plants. If you buy such plants 
as these you will lose very few 
plants. 
Our plants have a fine root-system 
