ABEL’S SEED HOUSE, READING, PA. 
Vegetable Seeds 
TURNIP 
A planting of turnips in the home garden will furnish a supply of 
nourishing greens during the summer months when the spring greens 
such as spinach and beets are usually exhausted. Turnips serve the 
dual purpose of providing quickly grown greens and a subsequent crop 
of useful roots. 
For summer use sow early in spring in rows ‘A to 2 feet apart. 
Plant seed about a half inch deep and press the soil down firmly and 
smoothly. When the seedlings appear giye a liberal application of 
tobacco dust to prevent injury by flea-beetles and root maggots. As 
soon as the plants are about an inch tall thinning should be started 
and carried on as recommended for beets. For fall and winter use the 
seed may be planted as late as August. 
Abel’s Purple Top White Globe Turnip 
Long White (Cow-Horn). Rather slender, tapering roots, 6 to 8 
inches long, 1% to 2 inches in diameter at the shoulder and usually 
slightly curved in form. The roots grow half their length above 
the surface, and are pure white, with crisp, sweet flesh. Pkt. 5c; 
oz. 10c; %lb. 20c; %lb. 30c; lb. 50c. 
Orange Jelly or Golden Ball. This is the best and most deliciously 
flavored of the yellow-fleshed Turnips. It is small topped, of rapid 
growth, and keeps exceptionally well. The roots are of medium 
size, very smooth, and deep yellow skinned. Flesh is firm, crisp 
and of excellent quality. At a diameter of 3 inches the roots are 
prime for table use. Pkt. 10c; oz. 15c; %lb. 30c; %lb. 50c; lb. 90c. 
Seven Top Turnip. A turnip that produces an abundance of spreading 
foliage, and is widely used in the South for the production of turnip 
greens, and also as stock feed. Though it produces a moderate 
sized bulb, it is more particularly used for its abundant foliage. 
Pkt. 5c.; oz. 15c; ‘Alb. 25c; ‘Alb. 35c; lb. 50. 
Red or Purple-Top Flat Strap-leaved. Does well sown either broad¬ 
cast or in drills, and will form good-sized bulbs. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 
‘Alb. 20c; ‘Alb. 30c; lb. 50c. 
Red or Purple-Top White Globe. Grows very quickly to large size, 
measuring 6 inches and more in diameter, and of perfect globe form, 
the upper portion rich purplish red, and the lower half clear creamy 
white. Flesh white, firm and crisp, of mild flavor. Pkt. 5c; oz. 
10c; ‘Alb. 20c; y 2 lb. 30c; lb. 50c. 
White Egg. A splendid table variety, growing to a good size. Skin 
clear white, tender, aud most ornamental in appearance when washed 
for market. Flesh fine grained, of mild, sweet flavor. Pkt. 5c; 
oz. 15c; M lb. 30c; ‘Alb. 50c.; lb. 90c. 
Large Yellow (Amber Globe). An excellent Turnip with smooth, oval 
roots, thick and broad at the shoulder. Skin smooth, pale amber; 
flesh, rich creamy yellow of excellent flavor. Pkt. 5c.; oz. 10c; 
‘Alb. 20c; y 2 lb. 30c; lb. 50c. 
ABEL’S NORTHERN GROWN 
SEED POTATOES 
Seed Potato Buyers Please Note.—At the time of going to press 
with this Catalogue the Potato Market is so unsettled that we are 
unable to name prices. Please write stating kind and quantity wanted 
and we will quote by letter. 
Pure Early Rose, Bliss Early Triumph, Irish Cobbler, Green Moun¬ 
tain or Improved State of Maine, Spaulding Rose No. 4, Vermont 
Gold Coin, and Dibble’s Russet. 
WATERMELON 
Sow 1 ounce of seed to 30 hills; 4 to 5 pounds per acre 
The requirements for raising watermelons are practically the same 
as for muskmelon except that the vines are more spreading and re¬ 
quire considerably more room. 
If the hills are liberally manured and cultivation is careful and 
thorough any home gardener can have these delicious fruits fresh 
from his own patch. 
Plant in hills as directed for muskmelon and treat the same in all 
respects except that the hills should be about 8 feet apart. 
Cut-Red Watson. There has never been, so far, a Watermelon 
introduced that became as popular as the Watson. It will be 
planted commercially for a long time yet,—provided the seed 
planted are of known quality. Some complaint has been in evidence 
about the Watson variety cutting with hard centers and almost 
worthless for market, which caused me to work on this melon with 
the view of breeding up a type that eliminates the strain that 
produces hard white centers. I have been very successful in this 
work and have perfected a strain of Watson that cuts red and 
sweet and grows big, glossy green melons, frequently growing 
50 to 60 pounds in weight; produces melons 18 to 24 inches long 
by 10 to 12 inches in diameter; seeds light brown smeared with 
darker brown; time for ripening, 95 days. Oz. 20c; ‘A lb. 45c; 
y 2 lb. 80c; lb. $1.50. 
Dark Icing. Fruits are oval in form with dark green skin, flesh 
deep pink, sweet; rind thin and brittle; not a good shipper. Seeds 
white; time for ripening 85 days. Average weight 25 pounds. 
Oz. 20c; ‘Alb. 45c; y 2 lb. 80c; lb. $1.50. 
Stone Mountain. The originator of this outstanding variety combined 
extra-large size with earliness. In addition it combines nearly 
round, symmetrical shape with a very pleasing green color and pro¬ 
duces a melon of unexcelled succulence and sweetness. Fruits 
weighing 60 to 80 pounds are produced in the South, and the 95 
days required for maturity make it easily possible to produce cor¬ 
respondingly large fruits in the North. Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; ^4, lb. 
45c; V 2 lb. 80c; lb. $1.50. 
Georgia Rattlesnake (Gypsy). This old southern favorite is one of 
the largest and best adapted for the home-garden. It has the most 
conspicuous striping of the oblong types. The rind is moderately 
thick and strong and the flesh is juicy and sweet. A very desirable 
white-seeded variety but useful only where summers are short. 
Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; *,4 lb. 25c; y 2 lb. 45c; lb. 75c. 
Improved Kleckley’s Sweet. Vines vigorous and productive. Flesh 
bright red and exceedingly sweet. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; H lb. 25c; 
y 2 lb. 45c; lb. 75c. 
Stone Mountain 
Abel’s Sugar Stick. Vines strong, vigorous, setting many melons meas¬ 
uring from 20 to 24 inches in length, with an average weight of 30 
pounds. Rind thin and tough; skin light grayish green with narrow 
darker green lines, giving a mottled effect of small half-inch squares; 
flesh deep, rich red, with broad, solid heart, crisp and sugary. Pkt. 
5c; oz. 15c; ‘Alb. 30c; y 2 lb. 55c; lb. $1.00. 
Sweetheart. Large, heavy, oval or round fruit; skin very pale green, 
with distinct netted lines of slightly darker shade; flesh solid, 
deep red. Bears shipping well. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c; ^4 lb. 30c; 
%\b. 55c; lb. $1.00. 
Halbert Honey. Very large, long fruits, having blunt ends and often 
weighing 50 pounds. The dark green rind is very thin, while the 
flesh is a rich crimson. Very prolific. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; ‘Alb. 25c; 
y 2 lb. 45c; lb. 75c. 
Dixie. Large, oblong melons; skin dark green, with a remarkably 
thin rind; flesh intense deep bright scarlet, very sweet, tender and 
juicy. Quite early. Very productive. A fine shipper. Pkt. 5c; 
oz. 10c; ‘Alb. 25c; y 2 lb. 45c; lb. 75c. 
y 2 lb. 80c; lb. $1.50. 
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