2 
LaFRANCE FRUIT AND PLANT FARMS 
GREETINGS, 1935 
Because of the most destructive drouth ever known in the history of 
Kansas the strawberry plant crop in Kansas and several surrounding states 
is almost a total failure. We do not have any strawberry plants of our own 
growing this year. We have made arrangements with three or four far east 
nurseries to supply us with good plants. We are not expecting to make any 
profit on these plants to amount to anything. We are just doing this to 
take care of our customers. We are going to see that our customers get 
good plants. 
Prices will be somewhat higher. They would be still higher if it were 
not for the fact that so few people have money to spend. Everyone should 
have a strawberry patch. It will add to the enjoyment of life on a farm or 
anywhere where you can grow strawberries. I never did know of them being 
a total failure before. I have grown strawberries in this county fifty-four 
years. We did not have a total failure in the spring of 1934, but almost. 
Because of the depression the price of fruit was very low. There will be no 
strawberries to amount to anything in the spring of ’35. They are sure to be 
a short crop in ’36 and perhaps ’37. In the spring of ’34 we told you about 
the terrific drouth we had in ’33 but after the one we had last year we do 
not think about the drouth of ’33 any longer. 
If you plant strawberries you will get better results for your time and 
money as any other crop you can grow. This spring we advise you to order 
early because late comers are sure to go without plants. 
What we have said about strawberries applies to blackberry and raspberry 
plants. Most of our fields of these plants were completely wiped out by the 
drouth. However, part of them came through the terrific drouth in good 
condition and we have some plants to offer. Our list of varieties and all 
kinds of plants is very much restricted as you will note by this price list. 
However, the best varieties are offered. 
F. W. DIXON, HOLTON, KANSAS. 
Phone 314-X On Highway 75. 
Member of American Association of Nurserymen. 
DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES 
Quite a good many varieties we had to fruit this year, 1934, were a total 
failure so we cannot tell you about their behavior as in an ordinary season. 
We are only listing a very few of the old sorts and one or two of the newer 
kinds. 
AROMA (Per)—For some unexplainable reason the Aroma came through 
the drouth in about as good condition as any. One field of Aroma was on 
little better soil and for that reason it withstood the drouth better. The 
plant is a little tender in transplanting. The fruit is very firm and is the 
best shipper. The berry is large and uniform. 
BELLMAR (Per)—This is a new variety that came throuugh the drouth 
in our old fields in as good shape as any. Plant growth is good. Plants are 
large. The berry is large and pointed. 
BLAKEMORE (Per)—This is one of the newer creations by the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture. It is one of the best all around berries. The plant is 
not as hardy as Dunlap. The berry is firm and a good shipper. The foliage 
is light green and very healthy. Like the Dunlap it makes too many plants. 
It must be kept thinned to get best results. Because of the fact that the 
berries hold on a long time it can be classed as an all season berry. It is as 
early as Dunlap and we have picked berries as late as Aroma. When the 
berries ripen they are a bright red but as they hang on they become darker 
in color. They do not spoil like Dunlap and so many other varieties. 
DORSETT (Per)—This plant is really a drouth resister. The plant did 
almost as well as the Dunlap. The berry is very large and good color and 
much better flavor than most varieties. We do not believe there are enough 
Dorsett plants to go around this year, hence, order early. 
