6 
J. H. Shivers Plant Farms, Allen, Maryland 
EARLY VARIETIES 
DORSET! 
PLANT GROWTH. The Dorsett was introduced several years 
ago. The old reliable Premier has been replaced by the Dorsett and 
Blakemore in this section to a large extent. The plant is a very vigor¬ 
ous grower, producing many runners. In good soil, it has a tendency 
to become too thick and a matted row is the result. The plants are 
not as large as the Fairfax. 
SIZE AND QUALITY. Under favorable conditions the berries 
are very large and conic in shape. At the proper picking stage, the 
berries are medium light in color and retain their lightness even after 
they begin to get quite ripe. The appearance alone should sell them. 
Its flavor is mildly sub-acid; undr normal conditions it is sweet and 
very pleasing in flavor but not so rich as Fairfax. However when the 
fruit is over ripe the flavor does not become so objectionable as in 
many other varieties. In one season of much rainfall in Maryland 
when berries lackd sweetness the flavor was better than that of Fair¬ 
fax. It has proven especially well on heavy soil. 
PRODUCTIVENESS. They ripen about the same time as Premier, 
and are very productive. Some of my customers claim they yield 
fully as well as the Premier, while others say they do not. With me, 
experience has proven that they do not produce quite so well as the 
Premier although the quality of berries are better throughout the sea¬ 
son. Should you be short of pickers or weather conditions prove un¬ 
favorable for picking, Dorsett berries will carry over in better con¬ 
dition than the Premier. 
