ABEL’S SEED HOUSE, READING, PA 
Vegetable Seeds 
CAULIFLOWER 
One ounce of seed produces about 3000 plants 
For many years cauliflower has been esteemed as one of the most 
delicious of vegetables but until recenty it was erroneously regarded 
as very difficult to grow. It is known now that the same methods 
which produce good cabbage will yield cauliflower successfully. The 
only significant dif- 
erence in culture is 
that the heads of 
cauliflower must be 
protected from sun¬ 
light in order to as¬ 
sure a white curd 
which is so desirable. 
This is most readily 
accomplished by 
gathering the tops of 
the leaves together 
loosely as soon as 
the heads begin to 
form. Shut off the 
light but do not 
cramp the head. 
Extra-Early Snow¬ 
ball. One of the 
best for forcing or 
open ground. Pkt. 
10c; ^4oz. 60c; 
oz. $1.90; %lb. 
$ 6 . 00 . 
Dry-Weather. This 
variety is especial¬ 
ly adapted for 
long, dry seasons. 
Pkt. 10c; 1/4 oz. 
55c; 14 oz. $1.00; 
oz, $1.65; 141b. 
$5.50. Extra Early Snowball 
CARROTS 
One ounce of seed will sow 200 feet of row 
For several generations the carrot 
has been one of the common garden 
vegetables but only in recent years has 
it become to be recognized as one of 
the most nutritious and wholesome 
foods. Health authorities assert that 
carrots contain in high degree those 
elements which constitute a nourishing 
article of diet. The plant has no se¬ 
rious insect enemies and is rarely sub¬ 
ject to disease. The culture of carrots 
is easy, being practically the same as 
that of beets. When practicable it is 
best to plant them in soil that has 
been richly fertilized the previous sea¬ 
son. Freshly manured soil will often 
produce divided roots. Plant the seed 
one-half inch deep in loose, well-pre¬ 
pared soil, making rows 16 to 24 
inches apart. Cultivate as soon as the 
plants are well established and thin to 
2 to 4 inches in the row according to 
the size of the variety. Plantings may 
be made from early spring until mid- 
June. For winter storage the later 
date is advisable. 
Abel’s Golden Rod or Tender- 
sweet—Imperator. 77 days. An 
outstanding type bred for market 
garden use, and for shipping. Tops 
medium but strong enough for 
bunching. Roots have sloping 
shoulders, smooth, deep rich orange. 
Uniformly tapered to a semiblunt 
end. Flesh rich orange color, fine 
grained, tender and of excellent 
quality. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c; i/41b. 
45c; i/41b. 75c; lb. $1.30. 
Abel's Red-Cored Chantenay. In size 
and shape this is practically the 
same as the old type but it has a 
darker, more attractive outside color 
and is decidedly superior in inside 
color and quality. It was bred to 
produce roots with smaller cores 
having the same deep orange color 
as the surrounding flesh, and in 
breeding for these qualities we also 
produced a more delicately flavored 
and sweeter Carrot. It is a few 
days earlier than the parent Chante¬ 
nay. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c; %lb. 45c; 
Vclb. 75c: lb. $1.25. 
Abel’s Nantes. It is unsurpassed in 
quality, sweet, mild, is long, cylin¬ 
drical, averages 7 inches long, 11/4 
inch thick. Color orange scarlet. 
Core is so undefined that it is called 
coreless. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c: 141b. 
45c: Vzlb. 75c: lb. $1.25, 
Page twenty 
Imperator 
All-America, Selections — 
Award of Merit 
Danvers Half-long, Large roots of good quality. Productive. One 
of ihe most popular sorts. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c; 141b. 30c; 141b. 55c: 
lb. $1.00. 
Long Orange. The best variety for garden and field crops. Pkt. 5c; 
oz. 15c; l4lb. 30c; 141b. 55c; lb. $1.00. 
Pride of Denmark. A cross between the two well known varieties 
Nantes and Chantenay, this novelty unites the good qualities of 
both, Our Pride of Denmark will stand storing and shipping, at the 
same time retaining flavor and crispness of Nantes. The long 
obtuse cylindrical roots are, when grown in the proper soil, abso¬ 
lutely smooth, of a beautiful scarlet color, and practically coreless. 
Pkt. 5c: oz. 20c; 14 lb. 50c: Vz lb. 90c; lb. $1.75. 
CELERY 
One ounce will sow about 300 feet of row and produce about 5000 plants 
A row of celery in the home garden will supply a family with a 
delicious vegetable until late in the fall. Its hardy qualities and 
adaptability to various soils and weather conditions make it a very 
desirable crop to grow. 
Excellent results are obtained from constantly moist, rich, well 
prepared soil. Celery seed will sprout at comparatively low tempera¬ 
tures but requires constant and abundant moisture. It is slow to 
germinate and even under favorable conditions cannot be expected 
to start within 2 weeks. For fall and winter use in the North, 
celery may be planted from March 15th to April 15th. Plantings 
in other sections can be governed accordingly. The soil for starting 
plants should be fine and loose and seed must be covered only 14 inch 
deep. Prick out about 3 inches apart each way when seedlings 
have 3 or 4 leaves started. Keep the soil well moistened at all times 
and transplant to open ground when plants are 75 to 90 days old. 
Space the rows according to the methods of blanching. 5 to 7 feet 
are required for soil blanching and 2 to 4 feet for other methods. 
Set the_ plants 8 to 12 inches apart to the row. To avoid pithiness 
or rotting of the stalk do not cover for blanching during warm 
weather. 
Emperor (Fordhook). Dwarf, stocky variety, with large, light 
yellow heart; very crisp, good keeper. Pkt. 5c: 14 oz. 10c- 14 oz 
20c.: oz. 35c; 141b. $1.25; 141b. $2.00; lb. $3.50. 
Abel’s Golden Plume. Very early, 
beautiful golden yellow Celery 
of most delicious flavor. Its fine 
appearance, earliness, and high 
quality have made it most popu¬ 
lar for home and market. Pkt. 
lOc; 14oz. 20c; 14oz. 30c; oz. 
55c; 141b. $1.75; lb. $5.50. 
Abel’s Houser. A superlatively 
good green Celery of rich nutty 
flavor with meaty hearts and 
thick, luscious stems. One of 
the most popular varieties in 
the market. Pkt. 10c; 14 oz. 
35c: Vzoz. 60c; oz. $1.00; 141b. 
$3.00. 
Abel’s Wonderful. An unusually 
thick-set compact Celery which 
attains exceptional weight. We 
have seen twelve stalks that 
weighed 72 pounds. It is a week 
earlier than Paris Golden, has 
no soft stalks, is free from 
strings, and is a perfect ship¬ 
per. In making our selection, 
we have not sacrificed the girth 
in order to lengthen the first 
joint. For this reason, our Won¬ 
derful will yield a heavy crate. 
Our method of handling seed 
plants results in producing far 
fewer seeders than is generally 
the_ case, especially when one is 
trying to grow a late crop. This 
fact is acknowledged in all the 
large celery growing centers. 
The rib is 9 to 10 inches to the 
firmness makes it less susceptible 
10c; %oz. 50c; oz. 90c: %lb. $3 
Abel’s Fordhook Emperor 
first joint, is very hard, and its 
to damage by heat or cold. Pkt. 
25; lb. $10.00. 
Columbia. An early maturing sort of most excellent shape and 
quality for the home market and private garden. It is extensively 
grown for shipment. The plant is of medium height but very 
stocky and heavy. The stalks are thick, almost round, resembling 
in shape those of Giant Pascal. The outer foliage of the plant 
when growing is rather light green with tinge of yellow, becom¬ 
ing when blanched yellow with tinge of green. The heart when 
properly blanched changes from yellow with tinge of green to a 
light golden yellow—in season it follows in close succession Golden 
Yellow Self-blanching. We consider it unsurpassed in its rich nutty 
flavor. Pkt. 5c; %oz. 15c; ^4oz. 20c; oz. 40c; 141b. $1.25; lb. 
$4.50. 
Easy-blanching. A medium-dwarf sort that blanches very easily. Of 
good flavor and a fine keeper. Pkt. 5c; 14oz. 20c; 14oz. 35c; oz. 
60c; 141b. $2.00; lb. $3.75. 
Giant Pascal. Stalks solid, crisp with goldpn yellow heart. Pkt. 5c; 
14 oz. 20c: oz. 30c; 141b. 85c; lb. $2.25.' 
Golden Self-blanching. Crisp, tender, and of fine flavor. Pkt. 5c; 
14oz. 25c; oz. 45c: 141b. $1.35; 141b. $2.45; lb. $4.50. 
White Plume. Valuable early variety that requires very little 
blanching. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; 141b. 75c; lb. $2.50. 
Winter Queen (Schumacher). Very large, solid green winter variety 
that blanches well. Pkt. 5c; oz. 30c; 141b. 85c; 141b. $1.25; 
lb. $2.25. 
