602 ANNUAIi REPORT OF THE OfiE. Doc. 



we keep tlie ventilators closed in the day time. When the nights 

 are warm we leave them up an inch or so all night. If I were to 

 give the cheapest and surest way to prevent lettuce rot in the green- 

 house 1 would say use elbow grease on the ventilators. 



PACKING AND MARKETING LETTUCE 



The Ashtabula growers pack all of their lettuce in splint baskets, 

 four pounds to a basket. The Cleveland growers sell in the local 

 market and pack in bushel crates. The Toledo growers pack in 

 large sized barrels. We are able to procure barrels at a low cost 

 and as our market is close we can pack in barrels and place on the 

 market in good condition. We ship by traction and sell through 

 commission men. If we were to sell to grocerymen direct we would 

 pack in a five or ten pound box or basket. 



The important thing in packing is to put in nothing but clean 

 marketable lettuce and have it alike throughout the package. Do 

 not leave long stems, dead or rotten leaves on the plants. 



The Ashtabula growers are most of them organized into an Asso- 

 ciation, called "The Ashtabula Lettuce Growers' Association," Mr. 

 E. A. Dunbar is General Sales Manager and looks after the selling 

 of the combined produce of the members of the Association. This 

 does away with the competition and resulting cutting of prices among 

 the growers themselves which I have been informed was quite com- 

 mon before the organization was formed. It also enables the grow- 

 ers to give more time to the growing of their crops as they do not 

 need to devote any time to the selling of them. 



Growers who are located near a good market have a decided ad- 

 vantage over those who ship long distances. They are able to place 

 the lettuce on the market in a fresher condition and thus can get 

 one or two cents more per pound for it. They are not compelled 

 to pay as much expressage and are often able to cut out one or more 

 middlemen. 



CUCUMBERS 



At least 75 per cent, of the total area of glass for vegetable forc- 

 ing in Ohio is devoted to cucumbers in the spring and early sum- 

 mer. The White Spine is grown more than any other kind. Seeds 

 are planted in pots or in solid beds about four weeks before the 

 plants are to be set in the permanent beds. The time of setting 

 varies with different grousers and different seasons and extends 

 from March first to the middle of April, Cucumbers are more 

 particular than lettuce as to treatment and must be handled with 

 much more care. The temperature should not be allowed to go 

 below 65 and 70 is better. Daily ventilation should be given but 

 cold draughts should be avoided. When started in pots care should 

 be taken not to overwater, on the other hand the plants should not 

 suffer for lack of water. Cucumbers should be given all of the room 

 in the beds as the plants grow so fast that other crops do not have 

 time to mature before the cucumbers occupy the space. Seedling 

 plants grown in flats may be placed between the cucumber hills for 

 a short time but should not be left too long. 



