A Great NEW 
EVER BEARER 
Liem^ 
The Glossy 
Sparkling 
Origin of the Gem 
Gem was discovered four years ago by Frank Keplinger in 
north central Michigan, growing as a single plant in one of 
his everbearing strawberry beds. So outstanding was this 
lone plant in production of bright red berries that he saved 
the twelve young runner plants it produced and set them out 
the following spring. 
First 12 Gem Plants Produced 25 Qts. of Berries 
These first twelve plants from the original plants were set out 
in the spring and during that Summer and Fall produced 
over 25 quarts of beautiful red berries and more than 200 
voung plants. 
Carefully Guarded for 
Two Years 
After his experience with his first 
twelve Gem plants, Mr. Keplinger 
realized that he had a wonderfully 
worthy addition to the “Everbear¬ 
ing Strawberry Family” and saved 
and carefully guarded all the young 
Gem plants he produced. 
During these two years 
many “strawberry men”, 
also members of the Hor¬ 
ticultural Department 
from the State College at 
Lansing, Mich., visited his 
“new find” and marvelled 
at its productiveness and 
beautiful big berries. 
Gem News Spread 
Like Wildfire 
The news of Mr. Keplin- 
ger’s new discovery leaked 
out and the news spread 
like wildfire and many 
strawberry growers begged for Gem plants. Nevertheless, Mr. Kep¬ 
linger did not allow any to leave his place until arrangements were 
made with Keith Bros. Nursery, who introduced his new variety 
through their 1933 catalog. 
Gem Introduced by Keith Bros. 
SIZE 
Gem berries average above the ordinary in size and 
don’t “run small and buttony.” _ Even during this 
past dry hot summer, Gem berries continued large 
and fresh—a remarkable important characteristic 
for an everbearing strawberry and the berries con¬ 
tinue to form large up to cold, freezing weather in the fall. 
m m No one can find fault with a Gem 
H_| Bj Mm SJ flavor. They are as sweet and 
|j JWB w'ff B U highly flavored as berries of the 
® ™ ™ ® * mother variety, the Progressive. 
They are just chuck full of straw¬ 
berry sweetness. You don’t need much sugar when you eat Gem berries. 
ft onto, in mm wm m mm Gem is an unusually 
ELS producer. This 
■ It’s the firmest 
bearer grown. This is 
evidently due to the tough skin of the berry, as well as its extra firm flesh. 
The originato- states that gem “could be rolled to market and back and still 
be sold.’’ Ev n during hot summer Gem berries “hold up” in color and 
firmness. A quart or crate of Gem berries never “leaks” no matter how 
far they are hauled. 
More About the Gein Berry 
There are two factors a customer wishes to know in any strawberry. These 
are the berry itself and the plant. Well, the Gem variety is O. K. in 
both these. Here are a few of the outstanding points of the Gem berry that 
has caused it to become so popular in only two years. 
Gem was introduced to the public two years ago by Keith Bros. 
Nursery through their 1933 catalog. Since its introduction, it is 
almost impossible to believe how fast Gem has gained in popularity. 
Demand for Gem Plants Unequalled 
You would hardly believe the demand there was for Gem plants last 
spring—only the second year after its introduction. Growers and 
nurserymen alike scrambled head and heels over each other to get 
even the smallest number of Gem plants, but they weren’t to be had, 
and thousands of anxious "wanters” had to “return home” without 
their much-wanted Gem plants. We have never seen such a demand 
in this great berry section of this state for plant of a new variety. 
The demand was also great in other berry sections where the news 
of this new berry broke out 
Don’t Be Late This Year. Order Early 
Although Keith Bros. N .rsery has many times more Gem plants 
this year than last, we anticipate a shortage, because of the great 
demand there are for Gem plan' this season. No strawberry has 
ever come so rapidly forward as Gem, and plants simply can’t be 
grown fast enough to supply the demand. We advise all our customers 
to make their reservations for Gem plants by ordering early and we 
will hold the plants for you. 
(Prices on page 21) 
Golot* * Gem f* as a sparkling glossy red 
* * color that gets the buyers every 
time, lasts for a long time after picking. We have 
left Gem berries on our own back porch in quart 
boxes for four days during summer and fall weather. 
At the end of this time, four days, these Gem 
berries still had their bright red color. 
2 . 
SlZ0 £111(1 Shape • berries and Gem has 
These with color sell the 
4* Production: 
both. Gem is uniformly large from first to last of season. 
We have picked some of our largest Gem in late November. 
‘-fc FJi’tmiPSe • It's the firmest everbearer grown. 
IHUt/SS • This j s evidently due to the tough 
skin of the berry, as well as its extra firm flesh. 
Gem is an unusually 
heavy producer. Not 
only is it a good summer and fall producer, but 
Gem yields immense crops of big berries at the usual 
strawberry time in the spring. It produces all during 
the season—three crops from one planting, Summer 
Fall, Spring. 
Page 2 
COPYRIGHT 1935 
KEITH BROS. NURSERY, Sawyer, Michigan 
