4440 Tur VeceTaBLe Ixpustry 1v New York Srare 
The length of time necessary for development of the head after 
it has been tied depends mainly upon the weather conditions, 
but it also depends on how well the factors in growing the crop 
have been carried out. If the field has lacked cultivation, do not 
expect the heads to grow very rapidly unless rains are frequent. 
Where conditions are correct, it has been found that in the hotter 
part of the season, two or three days will be sufficient. In the 
cooler days of autumn it will require from eight to twelve days 
to develop the head. Heads should be watched carefully, and 
when they become six to eight inches in diameter, should be cut. 
If left too long in warm weather, the leaves decay and discolor 
the head. In cold weather the heads begin to push up from the 
flower stalk, becoming undesirable, because they are irregular. 
CUTTING AND TRIMMING 
In cutting, it is seldom necessary to examine more than an 
occasional head for plants of any particular day’s tying, because 
the plants of that tying will be ready about the same time. If, 
however, there seems to be an unevenness in their development, 
it will then be necessary to pry open the leaves of every head. 
Cutting mav be conveniently performed with a large butcher 
knife or hunting knife. The instrument will also serve for 
trimming. When the heads are to be cut, it should be done very 
carefully. They are seldom trimmed in the field, but are merely 
severed several inches below the Hower and removed, leaves and 
all, to a packing house, where they are dressed and packed. It is 
necessary in cutting to have quite a portion of the stem and also 
of the large leaves remain with the flower, because in trimming 
the leaves are severed even with the sides of the flower and in 
such a manner that the whiteness of the flower is set off by the 
green frings. The leaves also serve as a protection. Where ship- 
ment of long cut flowers is practiced, the leaves are cut three to 
four inches above the flower, thus protecting the head efficiently. 
There are three different types of trimming, the long and the 
short trim, both previously mentioned, and a medium between 
these two. The long trim is especially suited to distant ship- 
ments, protecting the snow-white heads from bruises, therefore 
disfigurement. It also enables the retailer to retrim the head 
