Catalog and price list for 1928 / Preston & Knott, berry growers and nurserymen.

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Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

PRESTON & KNOTT

Berry Growers and Nurserymen

BUENA PAR K, CALIFORNIA

Telephone Anaheim 8700J3

Advance

Blackberry

Photgr aphe d
April 16th, [four
weeks ahead of
other varieties

CATALOG and

PRICE LI S T for

1928

E: K

i

Visit our Field

—and Get the Varieties that will fit your conditions

We are located in Orange County, on the Boulevard two miles
south from Buena Park, or, from Anaheim, five miles west on Lincoln
Highway, and one-half mile north on Buena Park Boulevard.

If you contemplate planting berries commercially, and it is at
all possible, we believe that it would be well worth your while to visit
our field. It is the largest bush berry field in Southern California.
We have been in the business many years and are still learning. Very
likely we have information on some points that would be of value to
you. Anyway, we will be glad to meet you and show you our different
varieties.

Going over our field with us will in nowise obligate you to buy
plants.

You will find that many of the finest, largest and most profitable
berry fields in Southern California were grown from our plants. Let
us start you in with plants that we are proud of, and then take care
of them in such a way that we will be glad to send future customers
to see your field, and your profits will be assured.

We have been growing berries for the market for more than
twenty years and have selected varieties and strains of varieties that
are very prolific. The varieties that we offer have proved profitable
to us and for other growers who have gotten plants from us, and no
doubt will prove money-makers for you.

- — - -WHEN PLACING AN ORDER -

Use the enclosed order blank when
possible.

REMIT post office money order, reg¬
istered letter, express order or check.

WRITE your name and address
plainly; do not fail to advise us when
and how you wish the plants shipped —
express or parcel post.

WE PAY THE POSTAGE OR EX¬
PRESS CHARGES ANYWHERE IN
CALIFORNIA. If ordering from other
states enclose postage or express.

Quantity Orders — Figure fifty or
more plants of one variety at the 100
rate, and 500 or more at the 1000 rate.

WE GUARANTEE PLANTS TO
ARRIVE IN GOOD CONDITION

Although we have no control over
plants after they leave our hands, still
we want you to be pleased with your
plants and to succeed with them, so
we guarantee them to reach you in
good condition.

All Plants are inspected by local
horticultural inspectors before leaving
our place, and guaranteed to pass in¬
spection on arrival.

All Orders which you wish us to
hold for future delivery should be ac¬
companied by at least one-fourth cash.

GUARANTEE

We exercise the greatest care to have our plants true to label, and hold ourselves in
readiness, on proper proof, to replace any plants that may prove untrue to label, free of charge,
or to refund the amount paid, but it is mutually understood and agreed to between the pur¬
chaser and ourselves that our guarantee shall in no case make us liable for any sum greater
than that originally received for said plants that may prove untrue. PRESTON & KNOTT.

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

To the Prospective Berry
Grower

In the past a large part of the berry acreage has been very close to the big
cities, principally Los Angeles. During the past few years, however, a great
deal of this close-in berry land has gone out of production due to real estate
subdivision, so new lands and new growers are needed. Another factor to be
considered by the prospective berry grower is the rapidly increasing population
in the Southwest. A crop of berries that would have glutted the local market
three years ago will not begin to supply it now. This condition is necessarily
being reflected in prices received.

Many new and promising irrigated districts have been opened up in the
Southwest during the past few years. Some of these are favorable to the grow¬
ing of berries on a large commercial scale. San Diego, Ventura and Riverside
counties especially hold many inducements to prospective berry growers. We
believe that a large acreage will be set to berries in these favorable spots
during the next few years and that those who take up berry growing now will
prosper. Location, in-so-much as city markets are concerned is not so im¬
portant. Modern methods of transportation, with Southern California’s un¬
rivalled boulevards, brings many markets within the reach of the grower, no
matter where he is situated. The profit to be made from small plantings should
not be overlooked. This may be derived from roadside stands, or if the grower
is situated close to a town, local retailers will be glad to handle his crop.
Many growers, with comparatively small plantings in the more remote sections
considerable distance from the larger markets have reported to us this past
season, that the local demand for their berries was more than they could supply.
And that the prices that they received were much better than prices on the
larger markets. You can make quite a nice income from a small piece of good
land, well cared for, by supplying berries to your neighbors and your local
groceryman.

Our packing shed on the boulevard is an important factor in disposing of
our crop; retail sales average above $100 a day during the busy season, and
oftentimes run above $200.

You will find a good demand for your berries if you produce good fruit
and let people know you have it.

Good luck in raising berries is like most good luck — 90% GOOD
JUDGMENT.

STARTING WITH GOOD PLANTS IS GOOD JUDGMENT.

Our plants have been good; that is how we have built our reputation in
the berry business. And EACH ORDER has to be the best that we can
possibly supply in order to keep that reputation.

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

The Y o un £ berry

(The Improved Loganberry or Youngberry)

Young Berry — Actual Size

This finest of all ber ries cannot be
listed under any of the other classes
of berries because it is an entirely new
distinct berry. Although it is a true
cross between the Loganberry and the
Austin dewberry, it is very superior
to either of its parents. To us, who
have been watching berries closely for
many years and who know berries, it
is almost unbelievable that a cross be¬
tween these two varieties could pro¬
duce a berry superior to its parents
in as many different ways. It would
not happen once in ten thousand
crosses. It takes after the dewberry
in productiveness, hardiness and free¬
dom from disease. The canes grow
and look rather more like the Logan¬
berry than the dewberry. The leaves
look like a combination of the two va¬
rieties. The fruit is larger, sweeter,
darker red, more shiny, and has a
much more pleasing flavor than Logan¬
berries, and when a berry beats logans
in all these points it sure has to be
good.

The fruiting season is just a few
days later than Gardena dewberries
and a very few days earlier than
Loganberries. They ripen very fast;
in Southern California, practically the

entire crop is harvested during the
month of June. On account of their
heavy yield, fast ripening and im¬
mense size, they are the cheapest and
fastest berry to pick we have ever
grown. We had several pickers this
past season who could pick twenty
trays (three hundred baskets) in a
nine-hour day.

This is our third year with the
Youngberry, so we have fruited them
two seasons, commercially. Our two-
year-old vines produced fifteen thou¬
sand baskets per acre, about twenty
baskets per plant.

From a new planting on our place,
put out in February, 1926, consisting
of 350 plants (one-half acre) we
picked this season 402 trays, or 6030
baskets, which sold for $760.00. These
berries were put in eight-ounce bas¬
kets, and our average price was $1.90
per tray; $3.80 per crate, or a little
more than 12 V2 cents per basket. This
was at the rate of $1520.00 per acre
sixteen months from the time the
plants were set, and in all the years
we have been growing berries we have
never had a first-year planting of any
variety equal this record, either in bas¬
kets per acre, nor in money returns
per acre.

A friend of ours with only five
Youngberry plants told us that, had
he had an acre produce at the same
rate as his five plants did the past sea¬
son, he would have gathered over
twenty thousand baskets. Mr. Bush,
of Corona, who got a few plants from
us two years ago, reports that he sold
one thousand baskets in addition to
what his family used from four rows
120 feet long.

We believe that within five years
the Youngberry will be the most
popular and most largely planted bush
berry in California. It will be popular
with the grower on account of its
health, vigor, heavy production, and
large size of the fruit. The consumer
will demand it because it is larger,
prettier, and finer flavored than other
berries now being grown. For pies,
jellies, jams and juice it surpasses any
berry we have ever seen. This is not
just our own opinion, but that of hun¬
dreds of customers who bought the
berries from our stands who have
come back to tell us about them. In
a complete description of the Young-

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Trees and Vines

berry, Mr. George M. Darrow, of the
Department of Agriculture at Wash¬
ington, sums up its superior qualities
as follows: “The disease resistance of
the foliage, its apparent resistance to
anthracnose, and the superb quality of
its fruit for dessert, culinary purposes,
and as a source of fresh fruit beverage
make it especially promising as a com¬
mercial and a home garden fruit. No
weak points have yet appeared in the
variety.”

We feel so sure that this berry is
going to be a money-maker in the sea¬
sons to come that we are planting ten
acres more this season.

The Youngberry derives its name
from having been crossed by Mr.
Young in Alabama a few years ago.
The Department of Agriculture was
quick to note its superior qualities
and has tested it at several experi¬
ment stations and recommends it for

planting where Loganberries and dew¬
berries are successfully grown.

Mr. Berry Grower, you should plant
some of this fine berry, because it pays
to grow the best, because the public
is going to be calling for it, and be¬
cause you will . get both profit and
pleasure in handling this better berry.

Mr. Home Gardener, ten plants of
this variety will make a row eighty
feet long, which will produce an aston¬
ishing amount of the finest berries you
ever saw. They will be a delight to
you and your friends.

They are very strong growers and
should be trellised. A very simple
trellis, consisting of two wires (the
lower one 214 feet from the ground
and the upper wire about 4 feet) is all
that is required. Plant eight feet apart
in rows seven feet across. About 800
plants per acre.

Prices— Each, 25c; 10, $2.50; 100,
$15.00; 1000, $125.00.

The Advance Blackberry

The Advance is the first blackberry
on the market, being four weeks
earlier than the Gardena dewberry,
which before the introduction of the
Advance was the earliest blackberry.
We start picking here in April, and

in some warmer and more sheltered
sections they are even earlier than
that. Mrs. Thomas of Carlsbad, San
Diego County, made her first commer¬
cial shipment last year year on March
8th, which is the earliest shipment we

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have any record of. Naturally these
very early berries bring fancy prices.

The Advance is the firmest of all
the blackberries. We ship them each
year, without refrigeration, to points
as far as Albuquerque, New Mexico.
It is generally conceded to be the best
shipping blackberry.

The crop ripens slowly, lasting over
a period of from six to nine weeks.
Although not thornless, its thorns are
much smaller than other blackberries,
being more like raspberries in this re¬
spect. The bushes are large and ever¬
green. There is a slight reddish cast
to the leaves, which make it very
pretty. It is sometimes planted as a
hedge for its beauty as well as for
the fine berries produced. The fruit
is borne nearly altogether on the out¬
side of the bushes.

Summing up the good points of the
Advance variety, it is the earliest and
the best shipping blackberry in Cali¬
fornia; it bears well over a long sea¬
son; its habits of growth cut picking-
costs to a marked degree, and last, it
sells for very much higher prices than
later blackberries. Should be planted
only in sections free from late frosts.

The first year after planting the
vines trail on the ground much like
the dewberry, but the next and suc¬
ceeding years they grow upright like
common blackberries. They respond
to the same careful watering, cultiva¬

tion and fertilization as must be prac¬
ticed with all sorts of berries. They
need no pruning in the first year.

On account of the Advance blossom¬
ing so early in the season, when the
weather is likely to be unfavorable for
bees to work, we have found that less
than five plants will not pollinate sat¬
isfactorily, so we do not sell less than
five plants of this variety.

There are two strains of Advance
blackberries and by having these two
strains thoroughly mixed much better
pollination takes place, resulting in
much larger crops. In small plantings
consisting of a single row, best re¬
sults are obtained by alternating these
strains, setting first one then the other
down the row, and the plants will be
tied separately in the shipment, so
that they may be planted that way.
In larger plantings we have found that
two plants of one strain to one of the
other is more desirable, and that it is
much better to plant two plants of one
strain and one of the other in the same
rows than to plant them in separate
rows. The plants will be tied sepa¬
rately and marked so that you may
plant this way. In the larger commer¬
cial fields it is a good plan to keep a
few stands of bees in or near the field.
Plant five feet apart in rows eight
feet across, 1000 plants per acre.

Prices— Each, 20c; 10, $1.50; 100,
$10.00; 1000, $75.00.

Another Kerry that Cannot
be Beat

One Branch of Macatawa Blackberries

Macatawa Everbearing — The Maca¬
tawa is a bush type blackberry re¬
quiring no support. The fruit is uni¬
formly large, very sweet, firm, with
few seeds and practically no core. It
bears an exceedingly heavy crop thru
June and July, and another light crop
of very large berries in the Fall. One
grower reports a yield of 20,000
baskets to the acre from two-year-old
bushes. Three years ago from a one-
acre planting of one-year-old bushes
we took 9000 12-oz. baskets. The same
acre, the past two . seasons produced
16,000 baskets annually, and the qual¬
ity was so good that these berries sold
for a premium. We consider this a
very satisfactory showing for any va¬
riety of blackberry. The Macatawa
is the practical sort for home garden
planting, as it is both a good canner
and fine for eating fresh. As a market

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berry, we consider it the best of the
mid-season blackberries because it
bears such abundant crops of glossy
black, uniform-sized fruits which al¬
ways look a little better on the
market than those of other varieties
ripening at the same time.

Plant Macatawa blackberries to pro¬
long picking season if you are planting
Advance. The crop on these is just
coming on good when the Advance are
gone. Macatawa is the heaviest
yielder of any variety we have ever
seen. We are planting four more acres
of Macatawa Blackberries this spring.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.25; 100,
$7.00; 1000, $60.00.

Plant five feet apart in rows eight

feet across, requiring about 1000
plants to the acre.

— We have tried a great many varie¬
ties; and are still trying some that are
not listed here. We are only listing the
very best. If you are sure that you
want varieties not listed we will be
glad to furnish them if we have them,
or to get them for you from some
other grower, if possible. Write us
your requirements and we will quote
prices on any variety we can furnish.

For as little as $1.50 you can get
enough Advance blackberry plants to
set fifty feet of row, and for only $1.25
you get enough Macatawa plants for
a fifty-foot row. This many plants
will supply a large family with black¬
berries every day from April until late
in July.

TWO MORE GOOD BLACKBERRIES, IF PROPERLY HANDLED
AND SUFFICIENTLY SPRAYED

Himalaya Blackberry — A very rank
and vigorous grower of the trailing
type which has to be trellised. It has
the longest fruiting season of any of
the blackberries; the season lasting
from about July 15th to November or
even later some seasons. Berries are
round, medium size, and grow in very
large clusters. The canes do not die
back every year like other blackberries
but continue to grow like a grapevine.
Only the fruit spurs die back each
year. This berry is very susceptible
to the red berry trouble and will have
to be thoroughly sprayed for good re¬
sults. Plant ten feet apart in rows
seven or eight feet across. About six
hundred plants per acre.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.25; 100,
$7.00; 1000, $60.00.

Corey Thornless — This variety of
blackberry is a vigorous grower of the
trailing type, and has to be trellised.
The fruit is the largest of any of the
blackberries, has small and few seeds,
but is rather soft, so not a good ship¬
per, though good for local trade. It
ripens about the first of June and the
season lasts about five weeks. Plant
eight feet apart in rows seven feet
across, requiring about 800 plants per
acre.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.25; 100,
$7.00; 1000, $60.00.

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Trees and Vines

The Best Dewberries

Picking Berries in one of our Gardena Dewberry Fields.

Gardena — This is the earliest and
one of the most prolific of all dew¬
berries, ripening four weeks later than
the Advance blackberry, but two weeks
earlier than the common varieties of
blackberries. We consider the Gar¬
dena to be one of the best dewberries
for planting in Southern and Central
California, where it is unusually pro¬
lific and a “sure-cropper.” From one
acre of Gardenas, the first year after
planting, we picked 7200 pint baskets
and the second season we picked 15,-
000 baskets. This is not an unusual
yield on good land with proper care.

This variety can be grown success¬
fully anywhere in the Southwest where
climatic conditions for berry growing
are favorable. Its bearing season
lasts from four to five weeks, com¬
mencing from May 15 to May 25, ac¬
cording to the weather. It is a strong
grower and should be trellised to pro¬
duce the heaviest crops. Ten plants
will make a row 35 feet long and will
produce a surprising quantity of
berries.

Plant SV2 feet apart in rows 6 feet
across, 2000 plants per acre.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.00; 100,
$6.00; 1000, $40.00.

Lucretia — This variety is a very
firm, handsome berry of good quality,
which we recommend planting to pro¬
long the early blackberry season, for
it is about ten days later than the Gar¬
dena. Its heaviest bearing season
comes at a time when the Advance is
going out, and as it is a good shipper,
it can be used to supply markets which
have been taking the Advance. It is
just as prolific as the Gardena, and
better flavor and appearance and
larger and firmer than either the Gar¬
dena dewberry or the ordinary black¬
berry. All of these qualities make the
Lucretia a profitable berry and one
that should be planted by all berry
growers.

Plant SV2 feet apart in rows 6 feet
across; 2000 plants per acre.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.00; 100,
$6.00; 1000, $40.00.

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Trees and Vines

Some Raspberries for the
Southwest

The Cumberland Black Raspberry

Nearly all varieties of the raspberry
do well in the irrigated sections of the
Southwest where soil and climate are
adapted to their needs. Under careful
management they produce large crops
and return handsome profits to the
grower.

We are growing varieties of both
red and black raspberries. Until very
recently the general opinion has been
that the black raspberry could not be
grown successfully in the Southwest.
For this reason, there has been but
comparatively few plantings made of
the blackcaps. The truth of the mat¬
ter is that they are well adapted to
the soil and climatic conditions in
many districts of Southern California,
and as these berries are scarce in local
markets growers are receiving high
prices for them.

Our crop of blackcaps sell for higher
prices per box than any other berry.
Last season our whole output sold for
$6.00 per crate, and most of them were
ordered a week before they were ready
to pick. We are convinced that they
will prove money-makers for those
who grow them, especially to those
growers who live comparatively close
to the coast. One grower in the Gar¬
den Grove district told us that he sold
$970.00 worth of blackcaps from one
and a quarter acres grown between
four-year-old orange trees. We bought
several hundred dollars’ worth of his
berries to fill our own orders.

PLANT BLACKCAPS

Cumberland — We consider this va¬
riety to be the best blackcap for the
Southwest. It produces abundantly
over quite a long season and the qual¬
ity of the berries is excellent, being-
very firm and of good flavor. It is
also a good keeper. We retailed most
of the last year’s crop from our pack¬
ing shed, and people from all parts of
Los Angeles and Orange Counties or¬
dered them a week in advance. Grow¬
ers who got Cumberland plants from
us two years ago are enthusiastic over
the crop and prices they got the past
season. Some of them reported that

their blackcaps all sold for more than
$5.00 per crate; and, as one grower re¬
marked, they sold for whatever he had
the nerve to ask.

We are offering only selected and
thrifty tip plants with a large and
well developed root system. With reas¬
onably good care, these should make
exceptional growth the first season and
produce a very profitable crop the fol¬
lowing summer.

Plant SV2 feet apart in rows 7 feet
apart; 1750 plants per acre.

Prices— Each, 15c; 10, $1.00; 100,
$6.00; 1000, $40.00.

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

RED RASPBERRIES

La France (Everbearing) — This red
raspberry was introduced only a few
years ago, but is becoming very popu¬
lar with growers in all parts of the
county. It is about twice the size of
other red raspberries, and for this
reason they are much cheaper to pick
than ordinary varieties. Because of
their great size and fine appearance,
the La France sells on sight. The plants
are very vigorous and bear heavily
throughout their season, which is from
early June to late in the Summer. We
recommend them for both home and
commercial planting.

Plant 3 feet apart in rows 6 feet
apart; 2400 plants per acre.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.25; 100,
$7.00; 1000, $60.00.

Ranaree or St. Regis — This fine
everbearing raspberry is known in the
North as Ranaree and in the southern
part of the state as St. Regis. It is
undoubtedly the best shipping red
raspberry grown in the West. Many
car loads being shipped each year
from the Palo Alto district to as far
east as Chicago. Thousands of trays
of this berry are shipped to the Los
Angeles market each year from the
North. We do not grow enough rasp¬
berries in Southern California to sup¬
ply the demand.

Plant 2V2 feet apart in rows 6 feet
apart; 2900 plants per acre.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.00; 100,
$6.00; 1000, $40.00.

Cuthbert — A mid-season red rasp¬
berry which has been grown on the
Pacific coast for a great many years.
Fruit, large, firm and of fine quality.
Plant two feet apart in rows six feet
across.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.00; 100,
$6.00; 1000, $40.00.

THE LOGANBERRY

This fine berry, very popular and ex¬
tensively planted in Oregon and
Washington for juice production, is of
California origin, being introduced by
Judge J. H. Logan, of Santa Cruz,
more than 20 years ago. The fruit is
large, long, an attractive red color,
and although it is a little sour it is
highly prized by a very great many
people for jams and jellies and for
mixing with raspberries and other
berries in jams and preserves. The
vines are trailing and have to be
grown on trellis. The berries are large
and easily picked. Plant 8 feet apart
in rows 7 feet across; 800 plants per
acre.

Prices — Each, 15c; 10, $1.25; 100,
$7.00; 1000, $60.00.

Strawberries for Profit

Owing to our mild climate and long
fruiting season strawberry plants, if
reproduced year after year, in Cali¬
fornia, rapidly loose their vitality.
Until last year we have shipped our
strawberry plants from the East or
North and planted them here. We kept
all blossoms picked off and allowed
them to make plants the first season,
and these plants, only one season re¬
moved from a cold climate, were the
plants that we sold. This careful
practice has produced many success¬
ful patches. Last season we went one
step further; we shipped all our Ban¬
ner and New Oregon plants from the
North and all our Klondyke, Carolina,
and Progressive plants from Arkansas.
The thrift and vigor of the fields
grown from these plants and the en¬
thusiastic letters we are getting from
the growers proves the wisdom of this
step.

This season we are having our New
Oregon and Banner plants grown for
us on contract by one of the most
careful growers and under the most
favorable conditions we could locate
in Oregon. We are having our Klon¬
dyke and Carolina plants grown for us
in Arkansas again this season. While
this practice practically eliminates our
profit in the strawberry plant business,
we have the satisfaction of knowing
that we are giving our customers the
very best plants obtainable anywhere.
You will notice that we are delivering
these thrifty, vigorous, cold climate
plants as cheaply as good local plants
can be sold for.

There are two kinds of strawberry
plants: the first is plants grown for
plants alone from a new planting, the
blossoms and berries having all been
kept off. It costs money to grow this
kind of plants, but the results you get

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

STRAWBERRIES

will warrant the cost. The other kind
of plants are surplus plants taken
from a fruiting field and many grow¬
ers will give you these for nothing if
you dig them and they will prove very
expensive plants at that price.
Whether you buy plants from us or not
be sure and only set plants that were
grown for plants alone.

Prices — Our prices quoted include
the mail or express charges to any
point in California. In ordering straw¬
berry plants in thousand lots or more,
deduct two dollars per thousand from
the prices quoted and we will ship
them directly to you from the grower,
you to pay the express, which we be¬
lieve will in no case amount to more
than $2.00 per thousand. This will
cost you no more and will save much
delay; your plants reaching you much
fresher.

Klondyke — This strawberry is plant¬
ed more extensively in Southern Cali¬
fornia than any other sort for local
and shipping market, as it is the earl¬
iest and most profitable sort. Plants
will produce two crops a year in the
Southwest, the first in the early spring
and the second during the summer. It
is a vigorous grower and a good plant
producer. We recommend it above all
other strawberries for commercial
planting and for shippers.

Prices— For 25, 50c; 100, $1.50; 300,
$3.50: 500, $5.00; 1000, $7.00.

Banner — The Banner and the New
Oregon are very, very similar varie¬
ties, in fact they are so nearly alike
that many people cannot tell them
apart. We believe that for Southern
California conditions the New Oregon
is slightly the best, being a little more
vigorous grower, and the fruit being

slightly larger and perhaps of a little
finer texture. They are both very fine
varieties and when you have described
one you have practically described the
other. Prices same as for New Oregon.

New Oregon (Oregon Plum) — From
the standpoint of quality this is the
finest berry grown in California today.
The bushes are the largest, and most
vigorous, and the fruit is the finest
flavored of any strawberry we have
yet found. We especially recommend
them to the grower with a local trade
that appreciates the finest quality and
to the grower who markets his ber¬
ries from a stand at the field. Cus¬
tomers will drive miles out of their
way to get these big, sweet, highly
flavored berries after having once tried
them. While we do not class them as
everbearers they do bear over a very
long season and they start bearing
long before the everbearers are ripe
and are much larger and finer quality.
We have picked them here continu¬
ously from March to the last of Sep¬
tember. Mrs. Waters of Dana Point
reports to us that she bought six hun¬
dred New Oregon plants from us early
last spring and that she was picking
berries six weeks after setting the
plants and that she had more berries
than they could possibly use all sum¬
mer, sometimes picking two gallons a
day. And remember this was the
same season she set the plants — spring
set plants not being supposed to bear
much until the following season. For
home planting we consider this the one
best berry. For distant shipment it is
not as good as the Klondyke.

Prices — Twenty-five, 75c; 100, $2.00;
300, $4.00; 500, $6.00; 1000, $10.00.

9

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

Carolina — This variety has been
grown only seven or eight years in
California, but as a commercial berry
probably ranks next to the Klonclyke.
It is a heavy bearer and a good keeper.
The fruit is not quite as bright and
attractive looking as the Klondyke, but
the quality is just as good. This va¬
riety is known in the East as Mission¬
ary and on the Los Angeles market
as Mission berries. It is the same
berry under different names. It grows

better in a matted row than most other
varieties.

Prices — Twenty-five, 50c; 100, $1.50;
300, $3.50; 500, $5.00; 1000, $7.00.

Progressive (Everbearing) — This is
one of the most prolific of the ever-
bearing strawberries, producing fruit
six to nine months of the year. The
berries are not as large as the Klon¬
dyke or the Carolina, but are sweet.
We recommend it for the home garden.

Prices — Twenty-five, 75c; 100, $2.00;
300, $4.50; 500, $6.50; 1000, $12.00,

A Word Concerning Planting and
Growing Strawberries

There are several methods of setting
out strawberry plants, each the best
under certain conditions. The method
most often used by the larger com¬
mercial growers is to set the plants
three feet apart each way, in February
or March, and keep the blossoms
picked off, allowing the plants to make
runners the first summer to fill out the
rows. This method requires only 5000
plants per acre, but you get no fruit
the first summer.

In smaller plantings, especially if
the grower wishes berries the first
season, the plants are set one foot
apart in either single or double rows
and the runners are kept picked off.
If this method is used the plants may
be set out any time from October
until April. The earlier planting pro¬
ducing the larger crops the first year.
This method requires from seventeen
to thirty thousand plants per acre, the
exact number depends on how far
apart the rows are spaced.

In most cases if the land is very

sandy and not very retentive of mois¬
ture, or if there is considerable grade
to the rows, the plants should be set
out on the flat, or level with the
ground without any ridges. If the
land is very flat so that the water does
not run freely in very small rows, or
if it is heavy or very retentive of
moisture then the plants should be set
on small ridges. If ridges are used
they are usually made wide enough on
top to accommodate two rows about a
foot apart, one near each edge of the
ridge.

Do not manure strawberry land be¬
fore setting the plants. You can fer¬
tilize after the plants are growing
well. In the irrigation furrow be¬
tween the rows if you wish.

Do not plant strawberries on alkali
land. They are very susceptible to
alkali and will do no good on land that
is alkaline, although it may grow some
other crops successfully. And only
plant strawberries where there is an
abundant supply of water which may
be had often.

Trees and Vines

We are berry specialists, and are
glad to ship berry plants anywhere.
We do not ship trees and grapevines,
as we feel that you can buy these
more satisfactorily from your local
nurseryman. The expense of packing
trees and grapevines for shipment is
so great that very likely your local
nurseryman can sell them to you just

as cheaply, and possibly cheaper, than
we can pack them and ship them to
you.

If you live within reach of our nur¬
sery, we will be glad to supply you
with fruit trees, walnuts, or grape¬
vines. Both the quality of our stock
and our price will please you.

10

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

Berry Baskets and Trays

We buy our berry baskets and trays
by the carload* ordering them in the
fall so that the mills can make them
up during the dull winter season, and
in this way we are able to make you
very attractive prices. We use and
stock only the very best grade wooden,
tin top baskets. After having tried
out paper baskets and all wood bas¬
kets we know that this tin top basket
is more satisfactory and economical;
that the trade is used to it and likes it
better, and that the berries carry bet¬
ter in it.

We market all our berries, both
locally and for distant shipments, in
fifteen basket trays, having discarded
the thirty-basket crate many years
ago. The first cost of the trays is
much less than for crates. They are
much cheaper to handle in the field
and at the shed, saving much valuable
time. The berries carry better in them
because they are made to just fit the
baskets, leaving no space for berries
to fall through. The berries can be
displayed better in trays because all
the baskets are in sight, while in the
thirty-basket crate only ten baskets
can be seen. It also often happens
that a customer does not want to buy
a whole crate, but will take a tray
which is just half of a crate.

You will find that handling your
berries in trays will be cheaper, that
it saves time and that your package
will be more attractive.

The trays are made with cleats on
each end of the bottom so that they
nest together and will stack up and
cannot come apart without being lift¬
ed up. In hauling to market one cover
is used on top of each stack. In ship¬
ping by express the trays are cleated
together in stacks of three or four with
one cover on top.

In ordering baskets be sure to men¬
tion whether you want eight-ounce or
twelve-ounce baskets and whether you
wish them shipped by freight or ex¬
press. Strawberries are all put up in
twelve-ounce baskets, and nearly all
the bush berries are put in the eight-
ounce size. There are still a few grow¬
ers who put blackberries in the larger
basket during the part of the season
when the prices are cheapest. We are
using eight-ounce baskets for all va¬
rieties of bush berries and find that
the berries carry better, keep better
and sell for a little more money when
packed this way.

Prices — Tin top baskets, either eight
or twelve-ounce size, per hundred, 75
cents; per crate of one thousand, $6.00.
Five-pound fruit baskets, per hundred,

$2.00.

Trays, when made up and taken
from our shed, are, each, 12 cents; per
hundred, $10.00: knocked down they
are, each, 10 cents; per hundred, $8.00;
per thousand, $75.00. Covers are 6
cents each. If ordered shipped, add
one cent per tray for packing and
hauling.

In ordering trays, state whether you
are going to use eight or twelve-ounce
baskets in them, as the trays are deep¬
er for the deeper baskets.

For your convenience in figuring
shipping costs: Trays weigh about
two pounds each. Eight-ounce baskets
weigh about thirty-five pounds, and
twelve-ounce baskets weigh about fifty
pounds per thousand.

The above prices are based on the
present price of lumber (October,
1927). Should lumber prices vary,
either up or down, in the spring, our
prices will vary accordingly.

Gloves for Picking Berries

We have found that goat skin gloves
are the only all leather gloves which are
tough, light, pliable and cheap enough
to be practicable for berry picking. If
you cannot get these from your local
dealers, we can supply them at 60
cents per pair, or for $6.25 per box of
one dozen pairs of assorted sizes, post¬
paid. The price of these at our shed

is 50 cents per pair. These gloves
come in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Please state the number of pairs of
each wanted when ordering. Give the
pickers these gloves with the fingers
cut about half off and they will get
many more berries from inside the
vines than without gloves, and they
will not hang like canvas gloves.

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Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

Answering a Few Questions
Most Often Asked Us About
Berry G r o w i n g

Irrigation — No set rules can be laid
down which will hold good in all cases
because of the difference in climate
and soil in the various sections. We
have given the distances for planting
with each variety. We irrigate about
once each week during the picking
season and about once in three or four
weeks during the balance of the year,
except in the rainy season. Some soils
will require water more often than
this, especially for strawberries, while
others may need it less often. Give
them a thorough irrigation when you
do irrigate. The one main considera¬
tion is to keep your plants growing
thriftily through the entire summer.
We have to get a large vine growth in
order to be able to get a heavy crop,
so if it takes more water to get a
vigorous vine growth, use it. Water
well at the end of the picking season
and again immediately after pruning,
which should be done just as soon as
the crop is picked. This gives the
vines a good thrifty start at a time in
the summer when they will grow very
fast.

PRUNING — Macatawa, Crandall,
Advance and other bush type black¬
berries require no pruning the first
summer. They grow pretty much on
the ground the first season, but stand
in bushes after the first year. The
following spring after the plants are
set, new, stiff, upright canes come up
through the plants, and these should
be headed back to the height it is de¬
sired to have the bushes, just before
commencing to pick. This gets them
out of the picker’s way and makes the
framework for next year’s bush. Then
when the crop is all picked all the old
wood that has borne berries should
be cut out at once.

Dewberries (and Advance blackber¬
ries if trellised) should be left on the
ground the first season until July or
August when they are put up on low
trellis. No pruning is required until
the berries start ripening, when all
the new wood is cut off to facilitate
picking. As soon as the crop is off,
the whole vine is cut off level with the
ground with a hoe; no other pruning
being needed.

Youngberries, Loganberries and
Mammoth Blackberries require a high
trellis (four to five feet). They are
grown on the ground the first season
until they are long enough to go up
on the trellis. No pruning is usually
necessary until the crop is picked,
when all the old wood that has borne
berries is cut from the trellis and off
at the top of the ground. The new
wood which has grown during the
spring is trained parallel with the
rows under the trellis and is put up
on the wires when the old wood is cut
off. In some sections the new canes
of the Logan and the Mammoth are
left on the ground until February and
put on the trellis then to prevent sun¬
burning.

Raspberries, both red and black — If
wire trellis is used to help support
them, will require no pruning the first
summer, but should be headed back
considerable (at least one-third the
length of the canes) in February. If
they are to be grown without trellis,
the ends should be pinched from the
new canes before they are two feet
high, or long, to make them branch
and to stiffen them up. The branches
are then cut back in February to three
to five buds. All suckers that come
up should be hoed out regularly, and
as soon as the crop is picked the old
wood is all cut out and the new han¬
dled as before. If too many canes
grow, the weaker ones should be cut
out when doing the heading back in
winter.

With Himalaya Blackberries only
four canes should be allowed to grow
from the start. They should be trained
on high trellis, of two wires, with one
cane each way on each wire. The canes
are headed back when they reach the
next bush (about ten feet). No lat¬
erals should be allowed to grow be¬
tween the ground and where the cane
reaches the wire. These main canes
are left year after year, like eastern
grapevines, and all laterals are cut
back in the winter to two or three
buds.

Corey Thornless — We believe the
best way to handle Corey Thornless

12

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

blackberries is as follows: The first
year leave the canes on the ground,
but keep them pushed over in line with
the rows, so that they can be irrigated
and cultivated. Then in February put
the canes up on a high trellis, sav¬
ing only four or six of the best canes
and cut these selected canes off at
about eight feet long. If they have
branches cut them back to about one
foot long. Immediately after the crop
is picked cut the whole vine off just
above the ground and leave the new
canes that grow right down on the
ground until the following winter
when they should be thinned out and
headed back as mentioned above and
put up on the trellis.

There are as many different meth¬
ods of pruning as there are different
growers. The plans suggested here
of handling the different varieties are
only suggestive, but have proved sat¬
isfactory under most conditions. Each
grower works out details that suits
his own taste and convenience.

Time to Plant — Strawberries may be
planted any time from October until
April. All varieties of bush berries
should be planted after the first of
January and before the last of April.
Occasionally we have seen fair results
obtained, if the conditions were all
favorable, when planted even later, but
we do not recommend it. During the
usual season and under average condi¬
tions February is the one best month
for planting all kinds of berries.

Fertilization — On nearly all soils it
pays to fertilize berries. For bush
berries, if manure is scattered on the
ground between the rows and irrigated
and cultivated in, during the fall and
winter, and the ground is not allowed
to dry out, it is hardly possible to use
too much. From five tons of poultry
manure to twenty tons of barnyard
manure will usually give excellent re¬
sults and will pay. If manure is not
available half a ton of blood, tankage,
or fishmeal, or a good complete fer¬
tilizer usually will give good results.
And either of the above mentioned
commercial fertilizers is better for
strawberries than manure. The com¬
mercial fertilizers should not be put
on nearly as early as the manure,
usually not until growth starts in the
spring. The exact time depends on the
availability of the material used. For
instance blood should be applied later
than tankage.

Trellising — For trellising we have
found that it pays to only use redwood
posts. We use heavy end posts (not
lighter than three by four) and carry
the strain all on the end posts. We
put the end posts all in the ground ex¬
cept one foot and fasten the wires
close to the ground, and then set our
first inside post only about ten feet
from the end, then raise the wires up
to the desired height, which makes
them very tight. Inside posts (which
only hold up the wire) may be as light
as two by two redwood, and may be
spaced about twenty-five feet apart.
No. 14 galvanized wire is satisfactory.

SPRAYING — In the past berries
have required very little spraying in
California. During the past few years
a microscopic mite known as the blis¬
ter mite is becoming bad in many sec¬
tions of this State. This mite enters
the blossoms of all the later sorts of
blackberries and cause sections of the
berry to remain red after the balance
of the berry is ripe. In all sections
where this condition has appeared all
varieties of blackberries, except the
Advance and possibly the dewberries,
should be sprayed. The Advance and
the dewberries blossom very early and,
so far as we know, have never been
attacked by the blister mite. For this
trouble spray in the spring, just when
the leaf buds are starting to open with
lime-sulphur, one to ten. That is, one
gallon of commercial liquid lime-sul¬
phur to ten gallons of water, or if
you use the dry lime-sulphur, use four¬
teen pounds to one hundred gallons of
water. Now the above is dormant
strength and will burn if used after
the plants are leafed out, but should
be used just when the leaf buds are
starting to open and none of the leaves
are more than one-half inch long. A
thorough job of spraying at this time
will get almost perfect control. In bad
cases, or, to get absolute control, a
second spraying should be given when
the berries are about half through
blossoming. This second spraying con¬
sists of five pounds of soluable, or wet-
able sulphur to one hundred gallons
of water. For Himalaya blackberries
which blossom over a very long period,
two or three sprayings during the blos¬
soming time are advisable.

To control the white scale (rose
scale), which gets on the canes near
the ground and sometimes becomes
quite bad, spray during the dormant

13

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

season with one of the refined lubri¬
cating oil sprays, such as Volk or a
number of others on the market. Use
at the rate of two gallons to one hun¬
dred gallons of water and keep it well
mixed.

If any other conditions should ar-

rise which require spraying, we would
suggest that you write for the bulle¬
tins listed in the back of this catalog
and also take the matter up with your
local horticultural commissioner. If at
any time we can be of any help we
will be glad to do so.

Helps for Berry Growers

During the course of a season we
receive a very great many letters
asking information concerning berry
growing, and while we are always
glad to answer these questions as
best we can, sometimes it would take
many pages to answer completely. It
is impossible, in as small a book as our
little catalog, to give very complete
directions for planting, irrigating,
pruning, and careing for all the differ¬

ent varieties of berries. The Univer¬
sity of California at Berkeley, and also
the Department of Agriculture at
Washington, issue a number of circu¬
lars and bulletins on growing the dif-
erent varieties of berries which will be
mailed to you absolutely free if you
will ask for them. These give a great
deal of detailed information which is
illustrated with pictures, making them
very easy to read.

You can send to University of California, College of Agriculture, Berke¬
ley, Calif., for Circular No. 164 on Small Fruit Culture in California.

Circular No. 154 on Irrigation Practice in Growing Small Fruits in
California.

Circular No. 265 on Plant Disease and Pest Control.

Bulletin No. 399 on the Blackberry Mite — the cause of red berry disease.

14

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

By writing the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., you can get
the following bulletins:

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 643, Blackberry Culture.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 728, Dewberry Culture.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 887, Raspberry Culture.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 998, Culture of the Loganberry.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 1458, Strawberry Diseases.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 1027, Strawberry Culture.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 1043, Strawberry Varieties.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 1398, Currants and Gooseberries. This last one will
explain why we do not grow currants and gooseberries commercially in
Southern California.

Farmers’ Bulletin No. 1488, Diseases of Raspberries and Blackberries.

In addition to these bulletins the University of California gives two corre¬
spondence courses, one on Strawberry Growing and one on Bushberry Growing.
These come in seven lessons each and are really good. Each course only costs
$2.00, and is open to everyone. If interested address Division of Agricultural
Education, University of California, Berkeley, California.

The One Best Rhubarb

Cherry Giant — After trying the com¬
mon varieties of rhubarb and finding
them unprofitable; four years ago we
paid $80.00 per hundred for our start
of Cherry. It proved profitable from
the start. Since that time we have
been increasing our planting as fast as
possible until this season we have a
limited number of plants to offer our
customers. This fine rhubarb grows
throughout the entire year and except
for a short time in the warmest part
of the summer the stems are a beauti¬
ful cherry red their entire length. It
is a little less acid and better flavored
than other sorts and even if it were
not better, its beautiful red color
would sell it. The stems are very
large, but so tender that they do not
require pealing, when cooked. It is a

very heavy yielder; two plants, if well
cared for, is ample to supply an ordi¬
nary family with all the rhubarb they
can use every week in the year. Com¬
mercial growers are finding that the
market is demanding this red rhubarb
more and more each year. It cannot
be grown from seed, but has to be
propagated by subdividing the plants,
which makes it more costly than some
of the common varieties. It is sure
worth the difference, though, because
after once getting a start you can
always increase your planting by sub¬
dividing, thus always having an in¬
creasing number of this superior rhu¬
barb.

Prices— Each, 50c; 10, $4.00; 100,
$30.00.

15

Proven Berry Plants

PRESTON & KNOTT

Trees and Vines

A Few Fetters from Our
Customers

Ridge Garden, Carlsbad, Calif., May 31, 1926.
MESSRS. PRESTON & KNOTT

Buena Park, Calif.

Dear Sirs :

I think you might be interested to know how
my Advance blackberry plants fared their first
year. I made my first commercial picking (a
light one) on March 8th, and my last about ten
days ago and in all I have picked very nearly
five thousand baskets. The smallest price was
$1.50 per twelve basket tray. Including the
sale of some plants locally I have taken a
little over $800.00 from something less than
an acre. I have increased my aci’eage con¬
siderably from my own stock and feel most
optimistic about the future of the Advance in
this neighborhood.

Very truly yours,

A. MAUD THOMAS.

Santa Ana, Calif., April 14, 1927.
PRESTON & KNOTT, Buena Park, Calif.

Dear Sirs :

Would like to have you send me two hun¬
dred berry baskets. The thousand New Oi’egon
strawberry plants I purchased from you last
February 11th looks fine, have picked nine or
ten quarts to date.

Sincerely,

EVERETT T. DUNN.

San Jacinto, Calif.
MESSRS. PRESTON & KNOTT,

Buena Park, Calif.

Gentlemen :

I am very much pleased with the growth of
the dewberries and the Advance blackberries
so far. The Advance have made a heavy
growth and are loaded well with berries, even
better than I anticipated.

Thanking you, I remain.

Very truly, yours,

J. C. CRAMER.

Route 1, Box 40, Downey, Calif.

Downey, Calif., Feb. 1st, 1927.
PRESTON & KNOTT. Buena Park, Calif.

Gentlemen :

Last May I bought one thousand Advance
blackberry plants from you and I never lost a
plant. They were planted a little late, but
they made such growth that I will get a fine
crop this spring. Also the Klondyke straw¬
berry plants were as nice as any I ever got in
the east. I will certainly advise anyone who
is thinking of planting either kind of berries
to talk to you before planting.

A satisfied customer,

G. A. PONDER,

Box 592, Ceres, Calif., Jan. 21st, 1927.
PRESTON & KNOTT, Buena Park, Calif.

Gentlemen :

Berry plants which I ordered from you
reached this office promptly and in A No. 1
condition. They lay in the postoffice here three
days — owing to rather tardy inspection at this
place. And yet they were in good shape when
I got them. The quality of the plants was
good and the Improved Logan, the Macatawa,
and the LaFranee raspberries were extra fine.

Yours very truly,

F. E. SMITH.

Jamacha, Calif., Feb. 4th, 1927.
PRESTON & KNOTT,

Gentlemen :

I am enclosing check for another hundred
Youngberry plants if you have them to spare.
The others came in fine shape and are splendid
plants.

Yours respectfully,

I. ASBECK.

PRESTON & KNOTT
Buena Park, Orange County. California

16

The Kruckeberg Press, Los Angeles

PRESTON & KNOTT

Bu ena Park
Orange County
California