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VEGETABLE FORCING 



basket, but some of the markets prefer only three pounds 

 in each basket. The basket, after being filled, is wrapped 

 with brown paper which protects the lettuce from cold 

 weather and keeps it clean. This is considered a very 

 satisfactory package. 



Many growers in New York and throughout the New 

 England States use bushel boxes for local markets, and 

 they are popular packages with both producers and 

 dealers. Larger boxes are used sometimes for distant 

 shipments. Figure 80 shows trays of fancy head lettuce 

 sold in the London market. 



Fig. 80. Choice head lettuce grown in England. 



Various forms of crates are also used, especially for 

 shipping head lettuce. 



Yields and returns. The yield from a given area that 

 is well managed will depend mainly on the time of har- 

 vesting each crop. A successful grower of Grand Rapids 

 considers 4,500 pounds a good yield for a fall crop from 

 a 30 by 200-foot house; 3,000 for winter and 5,000 to 

 6,000 for spring. One pound per square foot is a good 

 yield. 



The price of lettuce when sold by the dozen heads 

 varies from 20 cents to 75 cents, and occasionally more 





