1900 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



319 



sand, and carted to the potting-shed for use in winter, 

 by which time it is further rotted, and is put through 

 a half-inch sieve, swinging from the roof, which leaves 

 it very nice, and uniform in texture. This earth, ster- 

 ilized bj' steam, is very satisfactory. 



The lath boxes, spoken of in Gleanings, page 186, 

 are made 15 inches long, four laths on the bottom and 

 two on each side (laths split in two are too light in 

 our experience); end, half-inch pine, 5 in. long, 2% 

 wide or deep. This allows the sides to come about 

 ^-inch below the bottom, which gives drainage 

 when watered in the water-bench. 



This makes a very convenient box to handle with 

 one hand, or six or eight of them can be carried on a 

 tray. They are very nice, also, for plants for a re. ail 

 tracle, as a purchaser does not have to come for cab- 

 bage, onion, and celery plants, and again for tomato, 

 and plants that must be set out later, but can take 

 them home and keep them as well as we can until 

 time to set them. 



A good hand will dig his own seedling plants, and 

 plant 150 boxes a day of lettuce, cabbage, and like 



The boxes are made of ^s-inch spruce, I4 inch ends, 

 30 inches long, outside ; 15 inches wide outside ; 9 

 inches deep inside measure, lined with paper 2tx50 

 put in crosswise of the box. which leaves plenty to 

 fold over the top of the lettuce when the box is full. 

 Two other pieces, 1-1x20, line each end and fold over 

 the same ; another of the same size, with any adver- 

 tisement or notice, is laid in on top as well. 



The cover has a cleat at each end. with nails driven 

 through and bent, which hook on to cleats on the 

 ends of the box, holding the cover on securely, yet it 

 can be put on or removed in a moment. So many 

 dishonest customers are using them to sell other let- 

 tuce and other goods out of as " Maplehurst grown," 

 and, in fact, many goods that we do not grow at all, 

 that, in self-defense, we have made arrangements to 

 trademark all boxes and lining paper, which will, we 

 hope, put a stop to the practice. 



PACKING GRAND RAPIDS LETTUCE. 



I .suppose each man has his favorite way. Ours is 

 as follows: One man brings the empties all lined. 



INTERIOR OF GRAND RAPIDS LETTUCE-HOUSE, SHOWING PACKING-BOX, METHODS OF PACKING, ETC. 



plants, spaced 32 to a box ; celerj', 55, would take 

 longer ; tomatoes, 12, would take less. For spacing- 

 boards, see photo. 



PREPARING AND PACKING FOR MARKET. 



One of the best hits we have made is the package we 

 were fortunate enough to get up several years ago, 

 and which has proved entirely satisfactory. Barrels 

 were used before we commenced using the box of 

 which the accompanying view gives a very good idea, 

 and were a constant source of annoyance. Grand 

 Rapids lettuce will .settle much more than head let- 

 tuce. The package was too large for many custom- 

 ers, and, when turned end over end by careless ex- 

 pressmen, the lettuce was much broken up atid chafed 

 again.st the side of the barrel, lowering the quality 

 considerably. Barrels were never returned ; boxes 

 are supposed to be, and, in fact, do come back free of 

 charge, on an average six times before they disap- 

 pear. 



The plain stenciling of the name of a grower, and 

 contents of the box, on the neat package, is the best 

 possible advertisement in the stores, markets, or on 

 sidewalks, and, in fact, everywhere, when a consider- 

 able business is done. 



ready; removes the boxes as filled ; shuts down the 

 covers and addresses the boxes, which is done by 

 fastening a card with the name of the consignee 

 printed on it with rubber stamp ; one tack through 

 the middle fastens the card securely in a scarf about 

 Yi inch deep, made in the top of the cover at one end. 

 This prevents the cirds toeing knocked off when 

 boxes are piled one on top of another, as would be 

 the ca.se if the card were nailed on the top of the box. 



The packer tits on a low s;ool a', the side of the box. 

 One man on each side of him pulls the lettuce by 

 catching the root between the thumb and first finger, 

 palm of the hand upward ; pulls it toward him ; as he 

 lifts it, di.sengages it from the rest of the lettuce: with 

 a stick, a lath from an old plant-box usually, knocks 

 theditt from the roots, removes any wilted bottom- 

 leaves, and hands it to the packer, who gives the 

 roots a swish in a pail of water which he has between 

 his feet, and places it in the box S in a row, roots lap- 

 ping in the center, 3 lavers making -1 dozen, which 

 fills the box fairly in the winter, and with "scripture 

 measure" in the spring. 



Any plants considered by packers too small for 

 firsts are dropped beh nd him and packed, eight dozen 

 in a box, and labeled "culls." Culls usually are 



