4 HOLDRIDGE’S BOOK OF BERRIES—1941 
EARLY VARIETIES 
HOWARD NO. 17 (Special Strain) (Perfect)—We consider 
the Howard No. 17 to be the best all-purpose berry for the 
main crop. Under almost any condition it will produce a very 
large crop of berries. Yields may vary slightly with wet or 
dry seasons but it will produce plenty of berries. 
Our strain of Howard is practicaliy frost-proof and there- 
fore it ripens the earliest of all. We have often been the first 
grower to carry berries into the local market. At the start, 
the Howard produces large, luscious berries, many of which 
are double. The Howard will usually produce berries for about 
4 weeks, the berries growing slightly smaller toward the end 
of the season. The late berries still maintain their bright color 
and sweet flavor. 
We have seen where other growers have described the 
Howard with; the following phrases: ‘‘The safest strawberry in 
the world,” “‘The sure cropper,” ‘‘The frost-proof berry,” ‘The 
million dollar strawberry,” “The mortgage lifter” and ‘‘The 
old reliable.” From our own experience, we feel the Howard 
justifies all these claims. 
For a number of years we have taken our plants for re- 
setting from the best section of our beds. Now we have a 
strain of plants which have proven to us that they will produce 
a tremendous crop of berries. 
If you have never grown strawberries before, we recom- 
mend Howard No. 17 to you. For commercial growers, we 
recommend that the largest portion of your plants be of this 
variety. 
If you wish to play safe and want a sure cropper and a 
heavy yielder, plant Howard. You will receive large berries 
and plenty of them when the prices are high. 
PREMIER (Perfect)—Same as Howard 17. 
SHELTON (Perfect)—This is one of the new and out- 
standing berries. It is a product of our Connecticut Experiment 
Station. 
It is a very good producer. We received a yield last year 
which compared well with the Howard 17. It is a bright red, 
long, pointed berry. It will hold its bright color and attractive- 
ness longer than most other berries. 
The season is approximately the same as Howard 17, start- 
ing to produce very early and producing throughout most of the 
berry season. 
It is a very nice plantmaker. We have a nice supply of 
Shelton plants this year but we advise you to order early as we 
could have sold many more last year than we had. We advise 
everyone to try this new and outstanding Connecticut product. 
Westport, Conn. 
Plants I got of you last year did very well. 
SYLVESTER M. FOSTER, 
