LETTUCE 217 
these distances, but it should have more space for proper 
development. Improved Keene, when sold by the dozen 
heads, does not need more space than 6 by 6, but requires 
more liberal spacing if large heads are desired. Cos 
lettuce does very well planted 7 by 7. 
Regarding Grand Rapids; a well-known Cleveland 
grower sets 7 by 9; the largest grower in Ohio, 9 by 9; 
most Ohio growers, 8 by 8; a Johnstown, Pa., grower, 
7 by 8; an Erie, Pa., grower, 6 by 8. The Ohio station 
concluded from experiments that, all things considered, 
7% by 7% is best. Occasionally a grower, who has a 
demand for small heads by the dozen, plants 6 by 6. 
When the plants are sold by number rather than by 
weight, the tendency is to plant close together. Liberal 
spacing is favorable to maximum weight of individual 
heads, but more time is required to mature the crop and 
thus obtain the maximum weight from a given area. 
When total weight for an entire season is considered, it 
is possible that 8 by 8 or 7 by 9 will give larger yields 
than any other spacing, though growers differ in their 
opinions about this matter. 
Hexagonal planting is practiced in some greenhouses. 
This arrangement, as shown in the following diagram, 
gives each plant an equal amount of space on all sides, 
and more plants may be set in a given area than when 
placed in squares. 
x x x x x 
x x x x x 
The gain in this respect is considerable when a large 
range is planted. Close planting is a disadvantage in 
requiring a larger number of plants. It is surprising how 
many more plants are required to set a bed 7 by 7 than 
8 by 8. More space one way, as when the plants are set 
