34 
J. J. BUTZER, PORTLAND, OREGON 
TOMATOES 
Culture—Tomatoes do best on light, warm, not over rich soil, and success depends upon securing a rapid, 
vigorous and unchecked growth during the early part of the season. Sow in hotbeds from six to eight weeks be¬ 
fore they can be set out of doors, which is when danger from frost is past; when the plants have four leaves trans¬ 
plant into shallow boxes or cold frames, setting them four or five inches apart; give plenty of air, and endeavor 
to secure a vigorous but steady and healthy growth, so that at the time of setting in the open ground they will be 
strong and stocky. Even a slight check while the plants are small will materially diminish their productiveness. 
Set out of doors as soon as danger from frost is over, but before doing so harden off the plants by gradually ex¬ 
posing them to the night air, and by the withdrawal of water until the wood becomes hard and the leaves thick and 
of a dark-green color. Transplant carefully and cultivate well as long as the vines will permit. 
To insure best results in respect to early ripening, as well as the amount and perfection of fruit, it is advis¬ 
able to train up and trim the vines, especially if the patch is rather small. When the plants have been properly 
started and are six to ten inches high, they will begin to throw out branches. Select one of the largest and most 
vigorous of these and pinch off all others except this one and the main stem. Care must be exercised not to pinch 
off the fruiting branches, which, as they appear, can be distinguished by the buds that are formed very early. In a 
short time these two remaining branches will become equally vigorous, and as ordinary varieties will grow four to 
six feet high during the season, they should be securely tied at intervals of about ten inches to a long stake, pref¬ 
erably two inches square which has been securely set in near the root of the vine. Fruit will set to almost any 
height desired if all side branches are kept trimmed off. 
By such a method of training and trimming the fruits are kept clear from the ground, and with free access to 
sunlight they ripen much earlier; the vitality, otherwise exhausted in superfluous branches and leaves, is utilized 
in forming fruits of largest size, greatest perfection of shape and best quality. 
CHALK’S EARLY JEWEL 
CHALK’S EARLY JEWEL 
The largest, smoothest and finest-flavored extra early 
bright red tomato! Within a week to ten days as early as 
Spark’s Ear liana, it is even a heavier cropper, with tomatoes 
of larger size and sweeter flavor—produced continuously 
throughout the season. Of compact growth, the plants are 
fairly loaded with fruit. The tomatoes are uniformly of 
good size—seventy-five will fill five-eighths bushel basket. 
The large, handsome fruits are very solid and deep through, 
being almost round, or ball-shaped. Color brightest scarlet, 
ripening right up to the stem without any cracks or green 
core. The thick flesh is very solid, with comparatively few 
seeds, and of fine, sweet flavor; skin thin, but sufficiently 
strong to make it a good shipper. Per pkt. 5c; H oz. 25c; 
oz. 40c; M lb. $1.00; per lb. $3.50, postpaid. 
BONNY BEST 
An early, scarlet-fruited variety which has proven a 
success all over the country. It is from ten days to two 
weeks earlier than Chalk’s Early Jewel, which it other¬ 
wise resembles. It is smooth, very even in size, very 
solid, and also very prolific. It is one of the best house- 
garden, canning and shipping tomatoes in existence. 
Per pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; % lb. $1.00; lb. $3.50, postpaid 
BEEFSTEAK or PONDEROSA 
In addition to its ponderous size it is also very solid, 
there being but few seeds. In color it is a beautiful 
crimson throughout. Although so large it is quite early. 
Per pkt. 5c: oz. 50c; Va lb. $1.50; lb. $5.00, postpaid 
BEAUTY 
A rather early, tall variety ; very prolific, with good 
sized smooth fruit of a purplish-carmine color. 
Per pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; Va lb. 75c; lb. $2.25, postpaid 
“BURBANK”TOMATO 
Earliest, smoothest, most productive and best early 
tomato, bright crimson, thick, smooth and firm with 
few seeds. Unusually heavy and of the finest quality. 
Keeps well; a good shipper; a prolific, continuous 
bearer, has the unusual feature of being easily peeled, 
the skin slipping readily from the flesh. Resistant to 
wilt and other diseases. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 35c; % lb. $1.00; lb. $3.75, postpaid 
DWARF CHAMPION 
This is sometimes sold as the "Tree Tomato." It is a 
second early or main crop, purplish pink variety, espe¬ 
cially desirable where garden space is limited. The 
vines are about two feet high, vigorous, upright and 
compact. The fruits are medium sized, exceptionally 
smooth and of very good quality. Our stock is a very 
superior strain with more even, smoother fruit than the 
original. Per pkt. 5c; oz. 50c; 2 oz. 85c; % lb. $1.40, 
lb. $5.00, postpaid. 
SPARKS EARLIANA 
The plants are compact in growth with short, close- 
jointed branches, setting fruits very freely in the center. 
An entire plant may be covered with an ordinary bushel 
corn basket—yet so freely are the fruits set that each plant 
will produce a five-eighths bushel basket of tomatoes dur¬ 
ing the season of about four weeks, which covers the 
bearing period of the early plants. 
The tomatoes are quite uniform in size and of smooth 
regular form, averaging three inches in diameter and from 
two to two and a half inches in depth; they are fleshy, solid 
and excellent for shipping purposes. Choice seed of this 
strain is extra selected and far superior to the stock usually 
sold. Per pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; oz. 40c; 2 oz. 70c; M lb. 
$1.00; lb. $3.50, postpaid. 
