20 



both. The greenhouses cover about 78,000 squsirc feet, or 

 nearly two acres, and the sash-houses about 20,000 square 

 feet, or a total of 98,000 square feet. In most cases two 

 crops of lettuce are grown, occu})ying the houses from Sep- 

 tember to May. The cucuml)er season is from January to 

 Ausxust. In these houses it is estimated 320,000 heads 

 of lettuce and 275,000 cucumbers were grown the past year. 

 The price received for the lettuce ranged from $1.2o down, 

 and probably (>() cents a dozen would not be far from an 

 averafTc. The price received for the cucumbers ranged from 

 18 cents down, and ])robably 5 cents apiece would l>e a good 

 averaire price. The market is usually Boston. There are 

 also about 9,000 sash used in the culture of cucumbers, and 

 about 3,000 for lettuce. Under these sash it is estimated 

 80,000 heads of lettuce were produced the past year, and 

 350,000 cucumbers. It is estimated that 400,000 heads of 

 lettuce and ()25,000 cucumbers will be irrown under <rlass in 

 this town the present season. These industries are increas- 

 ing in this town, and several new houses are contemplated. 



Fitchburg. — There are thirteen greenhouses in this cit}', 

 owned by nine parties, and all are heated by hot water. 

 Only two crops of lettuce were grown in one house the past 

 year, the other houses l)eing devoted to cucumbers, 'i'he 

 lettuce crop began to mature in September, and lasted until 

 April. Some (5,000 heads of fair quality grown, selling for 

 from 50 cents to $1.00 per dozen, or an average of about 75 

 cents. The cucuml)ers begin to mature in November, and 

 last until July. About 50,000 will be grown this year, sell- 

 ino; for from 3 to 30 cents ai)iece, or an average of from 10 

 to 14 cents. The market is largely in Boston, some in Xew 

 York. No one has had entire success this year, while in 

 some cases the failure has been nearly complete. Thiips 

 and aphis have been unusually prevalent, and some not well 

 understood diseases have stood in the way. All this will 

 tend to check anv increase in the business, as it has been 

 done at a loss. Still, some new houses are contemplated. 



FnmJdin. — There arc two greenhouses in this town, 

 covering about 3,000 square feet, and heated b}' hot water. 

 No winter lettuce is grown yet. The lettuce season is fn)m 

 April 1 to July 1. The past season some 8,000 hoads of 



