172 MUCK CROPS 



which has been devoted to lettuce growing 

 for a considerable period. The remedy, 

 therefore, may be rotation and a longer time 

 between lettuce crops. 



Harvesting and Marketing. The lettuce 

 is harvested when mature; that is, when the 

 heads have reached a solid condition and are 

 of good size. This condition of the lettuce 

 becomes common to the grower when he has 

 obtained .some experience. Generally speak- 

 ing, the plant is raised slightly and a knife 

 inserted, severing the root. One or two of 

 the outside leaves may be removed, and the 

 lettuce is immediately placed in a hamper or 

 a box without any further trouble. 



Where hampers are concerned, generally 

 four heads are placed in the bottom, if 

 smaller heads, then five cover the bottom. 

 The next layer would increase one head, the 

 layer above that one head, and the two layers 

 above that increase two or more heads ac- 

 cording to the size. It is highly important 

 that lettuce of uniform size be placed in each 

 hamper. In the case of boxes, where two 

 dozen are placed in a box, the butts of the 

 lettuce are placed out, the lettuce being 

 placed in rows 3x4. The heads or top 



