12 The Bulletin. 



as large solid heads. The baskets used in shipping lettuce are the 

 cone-shaped veneer baskets, half-barrel size. This basket should, 

 when well packed, contain twenty-five heads of first-class lettuce. 

 The usual market run is thirty to forty heads per basket. In filling 

 the baskets the bottom row should be placed leaves up. The other 

 courses should be placed leaves down. Figure 3 shows a well-packed 

 basket, ready for heading. The baskets should be tightly packed, as 

 there will be more or less shrinkage from drying during shipment to 

 market. 



Manufacturers of paper are now making special liners and caps 

 for truck baskets. These are of heavy paper, cut to fit closely to 

 sides and cover. They cost about $25 per thousand for the half- 

 barrel size. We have not yet had an opportunity of trying liners for 

 lettuce baskets, but believe they would materially assist in putting 

 lettuce in the market in good, fresh condition. 



Market records for the last three years show that the fall crop of 

 North Carolina lettuce goes to market from December 15th to Jan- 

 uary 1st, and brings $1 to $2.50 per half-barrel basket. Spring let- 

 tuce goes forward from March 1st to April 20th, and brings $1.50 to 

 $4.50. Good lettuce will yield from 800 to 1,000 baskets per acre. 



Lettuce has proven to be the best-paying truck crop in eastern 



North Carolina. With steam-heated and irrigated beds, a lettuce 



crop will bring $1,000 to $1,500 per acre. Those best informed say 



that the heated and irrigated beds have always paid good dividends. 



Truckers admit that it is the lettuce crop that makes up their losses 



on other ventures. 



ROTATIONS. 



Lettuce is a rapid-growing plant, maturing in from seventy to 

 ninety days from the time of setting. Its short season thus fits it 

 well for rotating with other truck crops. Since the outfit for lettuce- 

 growing is more or less expensive, it is desirable to use it only for 

 intensive, quick-growing, high-profit crops. Cucumbers, eggplant, 

 cantaloupes, beets, radishes and beans may be grown in the frames 

 in winter and spring and fit in nicely with lettuce. The following 

 few rotations give examples of the many combinations of crops that 

 may be used with lettuce : 



