Flower Seeds 
ABEL’S SEED HOUSE, READING. PA. 
Flower Seeds Require Ideal Conditions for Germination 
The amateur gardener is frequently 
confronted with the fact that the flower 
seeds planted did not germinate and is 
unable to understand why. Many times 
the Seed House is condemned, but is this 
fair? 
If the gardener will visit the Seed 
House and present the true situation, 
proper information will be given so there 
will not be a repetition of flower seeds 
not germinating. Why not ask for this 
information when first purchasing flower 
seeds? 
Many flower seeds are exceedingly 
small and as they germinate slender 
shoots come forth which require deli¬ 
cate and gentle treatment. 
SNAPDRAGONS, for instance, in the 
cultural directions, require that “the 
seed should be pressed firmly into the 
top of well prepared soil and then cov¬ 
ered with a cloth or burlap kept damp 
until the seed germinates.’’ 
Many people are so enthusiastic about 
getting the seed into the ground that 
they fail to carefully consider these in¬ 
structions. When a good stand of plants 
fail to appear they are very much dis¬ 
appointed, and frequently condemn the 
seeds without considering the planting 
instructions. 
The fact that the seeds have been 
properly planted is no guarantee that 
the gardener will be assured of a goodly 
supply of plants. The elements mus't 
be considered. A sudden heavy thunder 
storm with its accompanying downpour 
of rain may tear the young tender plants 
to pieces, and they will not have a 
chance of becoming established. Next, 
the soil must be considered. Usually the 
soil is very hard and the effect of the 
rays from the hot sun tend to make it 
harder. This condition must be cor¬ 
rected by carefully loosening the soil 
and gently watering the plants, other¬ 
wise the tender surviving plants will 
burn off. 
Since so many factors enter into the 
successful growing of plants, the gar¬ 
dener, who has carefully observed and 
applied all the rules, will be best re¬ 
warded. 
Abel’s Seed House offers you the bene¬ 
fit of its experience in the planting of 
flower seeds. This service is free—ask 
for it when buying seeds. 
The above suggestions also apply in a 
general way to the planting of vegetable 
seeds. However, as vegetable seeds are 
more sturdy less difficulty will be en¬ 
countered. 
Abel’s New Flower Seed Novelties for 1937 
MARIGOLD GIGANTEA SUNSET GIANTS. The flowers the largest 
ever known in the Marigold group, averaging 5 inches and some 
flowers attaining a size of 7 M> inches, but they are produced in 
such profusion that a plant of Sunset Giants is one of the show¬ 
iest spots in any garden. But most remarkable, instead of the 
usual Marigold odor these flowers have a definitely sweet fra¬ 
grance, a fact which will undoubtedly place them among the 
outstanding novelties of the 1937 season. The flowers ure 
loosely formed, very full centered, with broad, heavy petals grace¬ 
fully overlapping to make a flower of great depth and even larger 
than Dahlia Flowered Zinnias. Sunset Giants is a mixture rang¬ 
ing from deep orange through golden orange, deep golden yellow, 
light vellow, lemon yellow, and a delightful new shade of prim¬ 
rose The strain comes from 60 to 65 per cent double. The plants 
are usually from 3 '■■■ to 4 feet high, but under extremely favor¬ 
able conditions have been known to grow as much as i feet. We 
are confident that Sunset Giants will take its place in the front 
Zinnia Pumila Dwarf Double Spun Gold 
ZINNIA PUMILA DWARF DOUBLE SPUN GOLD. A new intro¬ 
duction, Spun Gold, is an entirely new color in this type, a deli¬ 
cate pastel shade of butter yellow—excellent for cut flower work. 
The flowers are rounded. 2\v to 3 inches in diameter, on plant- 
12 to 18 inches in height, with strong, fairly long stems. The 
strain is very early flowering, coming into bloom about 45 days 
after planting, a point which makes Spun Gold a valuable addi¬ 
tion to the Zinnia group. Pkt. 15c; 1/16 oz. 65c; %oz. $1.00. 
rank of the group of hulf hardy annuals suitable for garden or 
cut-flower use in any part of the country. Pkt. 15c; 1/16 oz. 
75c; >^oz. $1.25. 
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