LETTUCE 



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however, that lettuce which is to be sold by weight is 

 cut in less than six weeks from setting in the beds, and 

 sometimes it is given 12 to 14 weeks in order that maxi- 

 mum weights may be obtained. 



Records made at The Pennsylvania State College show 

 how rapidly plants gain in weight after they have been 

 in the beds about four weeks. For example, Grand Rapids 

 lettuce, which had been growing in the beds for four 

 weeks, was cut February 15, and the plants averaged 

 three ounces each. February 22, another lot of plants 



Fig. 78. Grand Rapids lettuce. 



of the same age, were cut from the same bed, and they 

 averaged 4 5-6 ounces per plant. February 29, a third 

 lot was harvested, and these averaged l l /2 ounces per 

 plant. There was much sunshine during the two-week 

 period and, as the figures indicate, the growth was rapid. 

 It will be observed, too, that the gain in weight was much 

 greater during the second week. The lettuce was sold 

 at 12 cents a pound. It was large enough at four weeks 

 from planting to satisfy local markets, but a gain of 1.7 

 cents a plant per week was made by holding it for a 

 longer period. The plants were set 8 by 8 inches apart 

 and the weekly gain per 100 square feet was $3.83. On 

 an acreage basis the gain per week would be over $1,500. 

 It will be seen at once why most of the large growers who 



