ABEL’S SEED HOUSE, READING, PA. 
Flower Seeds 
Annual and Perennial Flower Seeds 
Among the flowers listed on the following 
pages will be found many annuals that 
bloom the first year from seed, but have to 
be resown the following year; some peren¬ 
nials that bloom the first year; and others 
that require a year’s growth before bloom- 
Abel’s Glorious Asters 
AMERICAN BEAUTY ASTERS. Large Double Blooms—Long Stems. 
The. earlier-flowering strain of the American Beauty type comes 
into bloom a little before the American Late Branching. Plants 
are of branching habit and very vigorous. They grow 2 to 2% 
ft. tall, spread 2% ft. wide, and bloom profusely. The flowers 
are globular, fully double, with incurved petals, and very large, 
4 inches or more in diameter. Strong stems 15 to 20 inches long 
make them especially desirable for cutting. The flowers come in 
a wide range of lovely colors. Carmine Rose, Charm-Lavender, 
Crimson, Famous-Rose, Peach Blossom, Shell-Pink, Purple, 
Snowball-White. Any of these separate colors: Pkt. 15c; %oz. 
40c; Moz. 70c; oz. $2.00. 
American Beauty, Mixed Colors. A splendid mixture of all the 
bright and showy colors listed above. It will give a wonderful 
display. Pkt. 10c; % oz. 35c; V* oz. 60c. 
AMERICAN OR VICK’S LATE BRANCHING ASTERS. From mid- 
season until frost these Asters will produce a profusion of beau¬ 
tiful flowers. The blooms are immense, 3% to 4 inches across, 
and fully double. The petals are incurved and so closely massed 
as to form a solid, globular, Peony-like flower. The plants grow 
2 to 3 ft. tall and branch freely. The stems, frequently 2 ft. long, 
make this class especially good for cutting. Azure Blue, Blackish 
Blue, Crimson, Lavendar, Peach Blossom, Lavendar-Pink, Bhell- 
Pink (Mary Semple), Purple, Deep Rose, White. Any of these 
separate colors; Pkt. 10c; %oz. 30c; %oz. 50c; oz. $1.50. 
American Late Branching, Mixed Colors. A favorite mixture con¬ 
taining all colors offered above. Pkt. 10c; %oz. 25c; Yi oz. 40c; 
oz. $1.25. 
CALIFORNIA GIANT ASTERS. California Giants combine the Crego 
or feathered type of flower with the long, straight stems of the 
Beauty class. The flowers with long, attractively curled petals, 
rivaling Giant Chrysanthemums, are large and grow 5 inches 
and more in diameter, on stems 1 % to 2 ft. long. Vigorous 
plants 2 to 3 ft. tall. Blooms in midseason just after the Royals 
have reached their prime. Peach Blossom—opens white, flushed 
peach-blossom pink when in full bloom. Light Blue, Dark Purple, 
Light Purple, Deep Rose, White. Any of these separate colors: 
Pkt. 20c; %oz. 50c; %oz. 85c; oz. $2.75. 
California Giants, Mixed Colors. All the above beautiful colors 
in mixture. Pkt. 15c; % oz. 45c; Y* oz. 80c; oz. $ 2 . 60 . 
Giant Crego Aster 
ing. These are indicated in all instances. 
All three classes are needed to make up the 
attractive garden or border and help pro¬ 
long the blooming season. The perennials 
increase in size and beauty from year to 
year and require but little attention. 
CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE or Improved Anemone-Flowered. Flowers 
of unusual beauty, 3 inches across, with a single outer row of 
petals and Anemone-like center of short tubular florets. The 
outer petals are of a contrasting color to the center. The 
branching plants grow 1% ft. tall and bloom in midseason. 
Mixed colors: Different shades of carmine, lavendar, pink, violet 
and white in a well-balanced mixture. Pkt. 15c; *4oz. 40c; %oz. 
70c; oz. $2.00. 
GIANT CREGO ASTERS OR BRANCHING COMET. The very large 
fully double flowers, 4 to 5 inches across, are made up of long, 
ribbon-like, loose petals gracefully curled and twisted, giving 
them a lovely fluffy apparance. The plants are strong growing, 
of the branching type, about 2 ft. tall and spreading fully as 
much. They bloom for several weeks in midseason. Long stems 
make the Giant Orego a fine cutting flower. Azure-Blue, Crimson, 
Lavendar, Shell-Pink, Purple or Dark Blue, Deep Rose, Violet 
or Royal Purple, White. Any of these separate colors: Pkt. 10c; 
%oz. 35c; Yi oz. 60c; oz. $1.75. 
Giant Crego, Mixed Colors. A wonderful mixture containing all 
the colors listed here. Pkt. 10c; %oz. 30c; % oz. 50c; oz. $1.50. 
QUEEN OF THE MARKET ASTERS. The Earliest Flowering Aster. 
The first of our Asters to come in bloom. The flowers can be 
had in late May or June by sowing the seed indoors in February 
or March. The plants grow 15 to 18 inches tall. The flowers 
are nearly round, fully double, and measure 3 inches across. 
Dark Blue, Light Blue, Crimson, Lavendar, Shell-Pink, Purple, 
Deep Rose, Scarlet, White. Any of these separate colors: Pkt. 
10c; %oz. 30c; *4oz. 50c; oz. $1.50. 
ABRONIA. Sand Verbena. Umbellata Grandiflora—A quick-growing, 
trailing annual, excellent for growing in baskets, in the rockery, 
or in the open border. The trailing stems often reach a length 
of 3 to 5 ft. They carry an abundance of rosy lilac, Verbena¬ 
like flowers during the summer and fall. Pkt. 10c; ^oz. 30c; 
Yz oz. 50c. 
ACHILLEA—Milfoil. Ptarmica fl. pi. The Pearl—Bears a profusion 
of small, double, white flowers on plants 2 feet tall. Blooms dur¬ 
ing summer. Pkt. 20c; 1/16 oz. 50c; % oz. 85c. 
AGERATUM. Floss Flower. One of the best plants for bedding, 
being literally covered with a mass of blooms from early summer 
until frost. The dwarf varieties are unsurpassed for porch boxes, 
potting and the rock garden. 
Imperial Dwarf Blue. Compact plants, 7 in. tall, covered with blue 
flowers. Pkt. 10c; %oz. 25c; Y* oz. 35c. 
ALYSSUM Rock Madwort—-Gold Dust. Saxatile Compactum (Bas¬ 
ket of Gold). Brilliant golden yellow flowers borne profusely 
early in the spring on neat, rounded plants 9 to 12 in. tall. Very 
showy. Pkt. 10c; >4 oz. 40c; %oz. 70c. 
Sweet—Annual. An excellent low-growing, spreading border plant 
with pure white flowers in profusion from early spring till late 
fall. Pkt. 10c; %oz. 40c; oz. 75c. 
Little Gem—Annual. Grows only 4 inches high and is covered 
with small white flowers from early spring till late fall. Pkt. 10c; 
YiO z. 25c; %oz. 40c; oz. 75c. 
Lilac Queen Improved—Lilac blooms changing to white on plants 
6 to 8 in. tall. Pkt. 10c; % oz. 25c; Ys oz. 40c; oz. 75c. 
AMARANTHUS. Summer Poinsettia. Combustion—Originated by 
Luther Burbank, who described it as surprisingly brilliant, 
iridescent, fiery rosy crimson. Poinsettia-like tufts of flaming 
fire; 4 ft. tall. Showy from midsummer until frost. Pkt. 35c; 
1/16 oz. 75c; %oz. $1.25. 
ANCHUSA—Bugloss. Italics Dropmore Variety—A showy, tall- 
growing perennial, 5 feet in height. The plants bear a pro¬ 
fusion of rich deep sky-blue blooms from June until August. 
Good for the back of the border. Pkt. 15c; %oz. 35c; Yz oz. 60c. 
Italica Lissadell. Beautiful, large, clear gentian-blue flowers. 
Blooms profusely during the summer. Pkt. 20c; %oz. 45c; *4oz. 
75c. 
ANEMONE—Windflower. Coronaria St. Brigid—An excellent early 
spring-blooming perennial, 12 inches tall, with large double 
and semi-double blooms in a wonderful array of bright colors. 
Pkt. 15c; %oz. 60c; %oz. $1.00. 
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