16 
W. S. Todd, Greenwood, Delaware 
Facts About Strawberry Plants and the Fruit 
They Produce 
The plants that I send my customers are all grown from large, healthy, heavy- 
rooted, selected plants. We usually set them early in March, and they have the 
advantage of a long growing season, or from early in the Spring until late in the 
Fall, and should be fully as good, or better than plants grown in the colder 
sections that do not have this advantage. While it is true that strawberries can 
be grown successfully in almost any section, one could certainly set the best 
plants that can be obtained to grow the best berries. Some may say that you can’t 
tell a good fruitful plant by looking at it, and that in many cases a large, healthy 
plant will not produce as much fruit, or fruit that is as good as a small, weak 
plant. I have never found it so, and a large, healthy plant of any variety, will 
certainly produce more fruit, and better fruit than a small, weak plant of the 
same variety. Some may tell you that their “perfected strain” of plants will pro¬ 
duce two or three times as much fruit, and that you will get better results from 
their plants than you can possibly get from plants obtained from any other source, 
but such has not been proved to be the case where such plants have been tested 
by Experimental Stations, side-by-side with the same variety of plants from other 
reliable sources, and fully as good results were obtained from just “ordinary 
plants,” as the “perfected strain.” 
I do not claim to be the largest grower of strawberry plants in the world, or 
that my plants are better than anyone else can possibly grow, but I do guarantee 
them to be as large and fine as you can get anywhere, no matter what you pay, 
and to be trimmed and packed in as good condition, and if grown side-by-side, 
under like conditions, that they will produce as much fruit, and fruit that is as 
good as can be grown from any plants. 
In digging plants the entire row is taken up, and for this purpose forks are 
used as they in no way injure the plants and all of the roots are obtained. As fast 
as they are dug they are placed in heavy sacks, labeled and carried to the packing 
house, where they are thoroughly cleaned of all the dead leaves and runners, and 
all plants too small to be called first-class are thrown out. The first-class plants 
are then tied in bunches, labeled, and the orders are made up and packed in 
light ventilated crates with plenty of damp moss, and a card with the certificate 
of inspection, purchaser’s name and address, county and state is placed on the 
crate and is ready for shipment. All of this work is done in a closed building; 
the plants have not been exposed to the sun and wind and they will reach their 
destination in perfect condition, fresh and green, and ready to grow. 
In closing, I want to thank all who have taken the time to read and examine 
this catalogue. If you have been buying plants elsewhere and have received good 
plants and good treatment, and are satisfied with the results from your plants it is 
not likely that I will receive your order, but if you are not satisfied with the 
plants you have been using, and care to favor me with a share, or all of your 
patronage, I assure you that it will be a pleasure for me to serve you, and I be¬ 
lieve you will be pleased with the results from my plants. I will certainly do 
my best to please you. 
Sincerely yours, 
W. S. TODD. 
