ABEL’S SEED HOUSE, READING, PA. 
Vegetable Seeds 
Abel’s Perfection 
MUSKMELON 
One ounce of seed will sow 80 hills; 2 to 3 pounds an acre 
There are few products of the garden that give as much pleasure as 
ripe sweet melons fresh from the vines. With seedsmen and other 
plant breeders vieing to produce the most delicious varieties it is now 
comparatively easy for the home gardener to enjoy this luscious garden 
prize at its best. Our list is made up of the most desirable varieties 
suited for growing wherever melons can be grown. 
In sections where the summer is short, seed can be planted indoors 
or in hot beds by using small boxes, such as berry boxes. These can 
be transplanted to the garden when danger of frost is past. If practi¬ 
cable spade in a liberal fork full of well rotted manure at the bottom 
of each hill. The rows should be at least 6 feet apart and the hills 3 
feet apart in the rows. In general the culture is practically the same 
as for cucumber. 
Abel s Perfection. ^ A large, main-crop variety, varying in shape 
from round to slightly oblong. Pale green skin distinctly ribbed 
and slightly netted; flesh deep salmon, sweet and spicy. Pkt. 5c; 
oz. 15c; i/41b. 40c; ^^Ib. 60c; lb. $1.00. 
Melons 15 to 20 inches long and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. 
Thick salmon flesh of delicious flavor. Pkt. 5c; oz. 20c; ^41b. 80c; 
Bender’s Surprise. Without doubt one of the finest fiavored melons 
we have ever eaten; and we recommend it very strongly. When 
ripe, the skin is a light greenish yellow, the flesh a very deep 
salmon. Slightly oval in shape, with coarse netting. The vines 
are very productive, maturing fruit in about 80 days. Pkt. 5c: 
oz. 15c; Vilh. 45c; %lb. 70c; lb. $1.25. 
Bmerald Gem. Early; small; flesh deep orange, very sweet. The 
best and most popular sort for this section. Pkt. 5c: oz. 15c: 
*/41b. 40c; Vzlh. 60c: lb. $1.00. 
Extra Early Hackensack. A well known first early sort for home 
garden and truckers for local markets. Fruits large, globular, 
flattened, weigh 2 Vg pounds, heavily ribbed with coarse netting. 
Ilesh green, thick, of good quality. Pkt. 5c: oz. 15c: i/ilb. 40c: 
Vzlh. 60c: lb. $1.00. 
Flat ^nny Iilnd. Heavily netted fruits, 3V& to 4^ inches in diameter 
flesh of rich flavor. Pkt. 5c: oz. 15c■ 
1/4lb. 40c: l^lb. 60c: lb. $1.00. 
Fordhook. Melons ^ow to a handy size and are very attractive 
round, Aa*- and thick, with bright orange-salmon flesh 
Pkt. 5c: oz. 15c; i/41b. 40c: Vzib. 60c; lb, $1.00. 
Hale’s Best. Since its introduction this variety has displaced somt 
of the older popular favorites by its outstanding merit. An earlj 
bruits are 
normally 6 to 6 Ms inches long, densely covered with medium heavj 
netting and are almost devoid of ribbing. The flesh is very thick 
Ptt ®almon-pink in color and richly flavored, 
Pkt. 5c, oz. 20c; %lb. 45c; Vzlh. 70c; lb. $1.25. 
Hearts of Gold. One of the most popular medium sized melons. It 
follows the earlier varieties, and it is very fine to plant for suc- 
cession_ as it ripens in about 100 days. The fruits are 5 to 6 
smooth orange-salmon flesh is exceptionally 
i-, flavored. Pkt. 5c; oz. 20c; i/41b. 45c: 1/2 lb. 70c: 
Id. 
^ green turning to a peculiar gray color when thi 
melon is fit for use. It weighs about 1 pounds. A firm, solid 
sweet, tasty variety. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c; Vilh. 40c; Vglh. 60c; lb. $1.00 
Spicy. Quite uniform fruits, measuring from 8 to 10 inches long anc 
Pkt%/.-T, on'”" “Ob salmon and tender 
Jrkt. 5c, OZ. 25c, T^lb. 80c: lb. $1.5u. 
Page twenty-four 
Osage or Miller’s Cream. Excellent for home and market garden 
use for local markets, not a good shipper. Fruits oblong, weigh 
6 pounds. Exterior very dark green, deeply ribbed, covered with 
slight grey netting. Flesh exceptionally thick, rich orange-salmon, 
tender, sweet, juicy. Length 7 inches, diameter 6 inches. Days 
from planting to picking, 95 days. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c; Vilh. 40c: 
Vzlh. 60c: lb. $1.00. 
OKRA or GUMBO 
This is commonly grown in the South where it is very popular. 
Seed does not germinate well at cool temperatures and planting 
should be delayed until the ground is warm. Plant in rows about 
2%^ feet apart, dropping 4 or 5 seeds to the foot and covering about 
an inch deep. Thin to about 1% feet in the row and keep thoroughly 
cultivated. Okra is raised for the pods which are extensively used 
in soups, stews, catsup and other relishes. They are at their best 
when 1 to 3 inches long. 
Kleckley’s Favorite. The plants grow 2% to 3 feet high, close-jointed, 
with ample foliage, and bear smooth white pods of the very finest 
quality at each leaf-joint. Pkt. 5c: oz. 15c; V,lh. 25c; 1 / 2 lb. 45c; 
lb. 75c. 
ONIONS 
One ounce of seed will sow 100 feet of drill; S pounds an acre 
It is probable that no other garden vegetable is used in so many 
ways as the onion. Raw or cooked, alone or in combination with 
other vegetables, it is equally desirable. As an appetizer it has no 
superior and many of the housewife's cherished recipes would be 
incomplete without it. 
A row or two of onions in the home garden will furnish a supply 
which will continue from midsummer to the following spring. Onions 
are very hardy and the seed will germinate in cool weather. It can 
be planted safely just as soon as the soil can be prepared. Shallow 
planting is advisable, Vi to Vz inch being about right. When 2 or 3 
inches tall the young plants can be thinned enough to prevent crowding. 
They may be thinned when 6 or 8 inches in height and the plants 
which are removed will be ready for use as green onions. From then 
on they can be used as needed and when fully ripened the unused 
bulbs can be stored for winter. 
Wethersfield Large Bed. The standard red market variety. Large, 
round, somewhat flattened; flesh purplish white; skin deep purplish 
red. Very productive. The best keeper and one of the most 
popular for general cultivation. Pkt. 5c: oz. 20c; ^Ib. 65c; 
lb. $2.00. 
Yellow Globe Danvers. An early and abundant cropper. Large, 
very thick bulb, flat or slightly convex bottom, full oval top, with 
small neck, and rich, brownish yellow skin. Pkt. 5c; oz. 20c; 
Vilh. 65c; ^Ib. $1.20; lb. $2.25. 
Majnmoth Fiizetaker. Enormous bulb, averaging from 10 to 16 
inches in circumference. A good winter keeper. The outside skin 
is of a rich yellow, while the flesh is white, sweet, and tender. 
Pkt. 6c: oz. 20c: Vilh. 65c: Vzlh. $1.20; lb. $2.25. 
Mammoth Silver King. Enormous silvery white Onions of mild 
flavor. Quickly grows to maturity on rich soil and often attains a 
weight of 2 to 3 pounds. Pkt. 5c; oz. 20c; ^Ib. 65c: Vzlh. $1.20; 
lb. $2.25. 
Southport Yellow Globe. Form nearly ovoid, regular, and sym¬ 
metrical; mild and pleasant flavor; slightly later than the other 
yellow sorts. Keeps well. Pkt. 5c: oz. 25c; Vilh. 75c: Vilh. $1.50; 
lb. $2.75. 
Southport White Globe. Handsome, uniformly globe-shaped bulbs 
with firm, fine-grained flesh of mild flavor. Yields abundantly. 
Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c: Vilh. 75c; Vzlh. $1.50; lb. $2.75. 
Ebenezer or Japanese Onion. Not unlike Yellow Globe Danvers in 
shape and size but superior in flavor and a better keeper. Grown 
extensively for sets. Pkt. 5c: oz. 20c; Vilh. 65c; Vz lb $1 20- 
lb. $2.25; 5 lbs. $10.00. ' ’ 
Southport Bed Globe. The deep color and symmetrical form of this 
onion make it very attractive. Bulbs reach full size within 110 
days, keep well and are of superior quality. Very firm and of 
strong flavor. Pkt. 5c; oz. 20c: V,lh. 65c: Vzlh. $1.20; lb. $2.25. 
Yellow Globe Danvers 
