“/ thought I was saving when I planted cheap seeds” 
ABEL’S SEED HOUSE, READING, PA 
RADISH 
One ounce of seed will 
sow 100 feet of drill: 
8 to 10 pounds nn acre 
The culture of radishes is 
so easy and the results so 
sure that they are probably 
found in more home gardens 
than any other vegetable. 
The varieties of radish dif¬ 
fer so distinctly and cover 
such a wide range of choice 
that the home gardener is 
able to obtain almost any¬ 
thing he prefers in the way 
of shape, color, size and 
season. 
The ground for growing 
radishes should be finely 
prepared and as free as pos¬ 
sible of small stones and 
lumps. Plant seed about % 
inch deep in rows 12 to 18 
inches apart and when up 
about an inch thin to 1 or 2 
inches apart. Radishes are 
at their best when the 
growth is quick and steady. 
A moderate temperature and 
constant moisture are favor¬ 
able for best results. Most 
varieties become pithy soon 
after reaching full size. In 
order to maintain a con¬ 
tinued supply, successive 
plantings should be made. 
Abel’s Sparkler. Small, round roots with bright scarlet top, a clear 
white base, and small, slender tap-root. Flesh juicy, pure white, 
of agreeably snappy flavor. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; %lb. 25c; %lb, 45c; 
lb. 75c; 2 lbs. $1.25. 
Abel’s Rapid Red. Small, perfectly round, with thin, bright red 
skin; flesh pure white, crisp. Ready for market in 20 to 25 days. 
Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; % lb. 25c; % lb. 45c; lb. 75c; 2 lbs. $1.25. 
Crimson Giant Globe. Suitable both for forcing or planting outdoors. 
In shape it is round to oval and very attractve. 'The flesh is mild 
and tender. Grows to a larger radish than in its class yet retains 
its crispness and solidity. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; %lb. 25c; %lb. 45c; 
lb. 75c: 2 lbs. $1.25. 
Olive Shaped Early Scarlet (Short Top). Our pedigreed stock of this 
popular variety is outstandingly good and well adapted to both field 
culture and greenhouse forcing. Roots globular, very slightly elon¬ 
gated with medium top, bright scarlet, crisp, tender and fine quality. 
Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; %lb. 25c: Vzlb. 45c; lb. 75c: 2 lbs. $1.25. 
White Pearl or Pearl Forcing. A beautiful pearly white, half stump- 
rooted Radish that is very firm and solid and remains in good 
condition for two weeks before becoming woody or showing any 
signs of going to seed. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; %lb. 25c; V^lb. 45c: 
lb. 75c; 2 lbs. $1.25. 
White Icicle. The finest of all long Radishes and quite distinct. 
Roots of good size, shaped like an icicle, straight, free from any 
side roots. Flesh crisp and tender, even when fully developed. For 
either spring or fall sowing. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; hi lb. 25c: Vs lb. 45c; 
lb. 75c; 2 lbs. $1.25. 
Xiong White Vienna (I^ady Finger). Grows to good size without 
becoming pithy or tough. Flesh pure white, and juicy. Use rich, 
moist soil which has been prepared deeply. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 
hi lb. 25c: % lb. 45c: lb. 75c: 2 lbs. $1.25. 
White Strasburg. Roots 4 to 5 inches long and 2 inches in diameter; 
flesh white, mild and crisp. Pkt. 5c: oz. 10c; hi lb. 25c: % lb. 45c; 
lb. 75c: 2 lbs. $1.25. 
Chartiers (Shepherd). Attractive roots of bright crimson, tipped 
with white; flesh white, crisp, and of fine flavor. Easily grown and 
very delicious, with agreeably snappy flavor. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 
hi lb. 25c: Ms lb. 45c: lb. 75c; 2 lbs. $1.25. 
French Breakfast. Oval or olive-shaped; clear red, tipped white. 
Pkt. 5c: oz. 10c: hi lb. 25c: % lb. 45c: lb. 75c: 2 lbs. $1.25. 
Cincinnati IVIarket. Clear bright rose-red counterpart of Icicle. 
Equally crisp and refreshing. Pkt. 5c: oz. 10c; hi lb. 25c; hi lb. 
45c; lb. 75c: 2 lbs. $1.25. 
California Mammoth White Radish. This is an exceptionally fine 
winter variety. Growing about 8 inches long and is about 2hi 
inches thick and cylindrical. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 141b. 25c; 141b. 45c: 
lb. 75c; 2 lbs. $1.25. 
WINTER RADISHES 
One ounce of seed will sow 100 feet of row 
These require cool weather at the finish of their growing season, 
though they may be started during hot weather. Make your first 
planting the middle of June, second middle of July, third middle of 
August. Sow thinly in rows not less than 15 inches apart; thin out 
to stand 6 inches apart. Easily stored for winter use. 
Chinese Rose (Scarlet China). Roots medium size, 4 to 6 inches long; 
skin deep rose; flesh white, firm, compact, free from any hard 
fiber or strings. Pkt. 5c: oz. 10c; 14 lb. 25c; 14 lb. 45c; lb. 76c: 
2 lbs. $1.25. 
Long Black Spanish. Roots 7 to 10 inches long, 2 to 3 inches thick; 
skin black; flesh pure white, firm, juicy, and has a good snappy 
flavor. Will keep in perfect condition all winter long if stored in a 
frostproof cellar. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 14 lb. 25c: 14 lb. 45c; lb. 75c; 
2 lbs. $1.25. 
Round Black Spanish. Firm, crisp, white flesh. Skin black. Nearly 
round, four inches in diameter. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 141b. 25c; 141b. 
45c: lb. 75c; 2 lbs. $1.25. 
White Chinese (Celestial). Roots cylindric, 12 to 15 inches long, 
with a diameter of 5 inches; flesh crisp, juicy, tender, agreeably 
mild in flavor. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 14 lb. 25c; 14 lb. 45c: lb. 75c; 
2 lbs. $1.25. 
RUTABAGA 
Improved Purple-top. This special strain of Rutabaga is remarkable 
for uniform shape and fine quality, and is also a splendid keeper. 
The roots grow to large size, skin smooth, and flesh beautiful yellow 
and fine grained. The flavor is good, being very sweet and tender. 
Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c: 141b. 30c: lb. 80c. 
Early Neckless Rutabaga. A new variety of Improved Purple Top 
Yellow Rutabaga, having no neck at all, and in our opinion, the 
finest table quality of Rutabaga on the market. It has the added 
feature that it grows in two to three weeks less time than most 
standard stocks of rutabaga, and it can therefore be planted two 
to three weeks later in the fall than the usual type. Pkt. 5c: 
oz. 10c; 141b. 25c; 141b. 45c; lb. 75c. 
RHUBARB 
Good plants are easily grown in any good garden soil. Sow seed 
thinly in shallow drills a foot apart and thin to 4 to 5 inches. Keep 
soil loose and free from weeds. The plants vary considerably. Pick 
out the strongest and best. In fall or spring following, transplant to 
the permanent bed, 4 feet apart each way, in deep warm, rich soil. 
Victoria. The most popular variety. Comes quite true from seed. 
Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c: 14 lb. 50c: lb. $1.50. 
SALSIFY 
(Vegetable Oyster Plant) 
One of the most desirable winter vegetables. The roots when 
cooked are very palatable and nutritious and are served in a variety 
of ways. The flavor is similar to oysters. Salsify succeeds best in a 
light, well enriched soil, which should be stirred to_ a good depth, 
(loarse and fresh manure should be avoided, as it will surely cause 
the roots to become irregular and much branched. Sow early and 
quite deep, giving the general culture recommended for parsnip. The 
roots are perfectly hardy and may remain out all winter, but should 
be dug early in spring as they deteriorate rapidly after growth com¬ 
mences. Frost does not injure the roots, but before the ground 
freezes a quantity for winter use may be stored in a pit or in a good 
cellar. 
Mammoth Sandwich Island. Makes fine large roots of delicious flavor. 
The best variety. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15o: *Alb. 50c: lb. $1.60. 
SPINACH 
Sow 1 ounce of seed to 100 feet of drill 
Sow in rows 16 to 20 inches apart and thin to 6 inches apart in the 
row when leaves are an inch wide. In the North seed can be planted 
as soon as the ground can be prepared. In the South spinach will 
winter over with little or no protection. The soil for spinach should 
be as rich as practicable. The size and quality of the leaves is much 
increased by the richness of the soil. 
Bloomsdale. Savoy-leaved, very early, and one of the beet for fall 
or early spring planting. Leaves dark green, medium size, and 
crumpled. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; ^Alb. 15c: lb. 35c; 5 lbs. $1.00; 
10 lbs. $1.80. 
Long Standing Bloomsdale. This rather new variety is becoming more 
popular each year and is very desirable where a curled, dark leaf 
spinach is desired; does not lay flat on the ground, for it has an 
upright compact growth. This variety has been bred to eliminate 
the early seeding. It will stand ten days longer than most varieties 
before boiling to seed. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; hi lb. 15c: lb. 35c; 5 lbs. 
$1.00; 10 lbs. $1.80. 
Victoria. Leaves large, thick, dark green. Becomes fit for use early 
and remains in condition a long time. Pkt. 5c: oz. 10c; %lb. 15c; 
lb. 35c; 5 lbs. $1.00; 10 lbs. $1.80. 
New Zealand. Entirely distinct variety. Produces a large quantity 
of leaves. When cut, branches out and makes new growth, pro¬ 
ducing until frost. For summer use, sow early in spring.^ Pkt. 6c; 
oz. 15c: %lb. 25c: lb. 50c; 5 lbs. $2.00. 
King of Denmark. The leaves are large, rounded somewhat, blistered 
and deep green in color. A rather slow growing variety but re¬ 
mains in good condition a week after some varietes have shot to 
seed. The plants resemble long season. Pkt. 5c: oz. 15c: lb. 36c; 
6 lbs. $1.00. 
Aristocrat. This variety was one of the winners in the All-America 
trials and was awarded because of the oustanding qualities. 
The leaves are extremely large and heavy curled, the plants are 
of a deep dark green color and very slow in running to seed and 
have a compact habit. We consider this a first class variety for 
spring sowing. We suggest you try the Aristocrat and we are sure 
you will agree with us that it is the best type of savoy spinach 
existent. Pkt. 5c; oz. 15c; %lb. 25c; lb. 50c; 5 lbs. $2.00. 
Virginia Blight Resistant Spinach. This variety only advisable in 
sections where soil is infested with mosaic blight or yellow. This 
type equal to Bloomsdale. Plants are quick in running to seed 
and not so suitable for spring planting. Pkt. 5c: oz. 10c; ^Ib. 
15c; lb. 35c; 5 lbs. $1.00; 10 lbs. $1.80. 
Abel’s Sparkler White Tip 
Page twenty-seven 
