LETTUCE 223 
balls of earth are soaked with water before they are sent 
to market. 
Experiments at the Tennessee station resulted in a 15 
per cent smaller yield by weight than was obtained by 
Fig. 76.—Pot-grown plant ready to set in the bed 
the usual method of setting in beds, but a higher price 
was obtained for the pot-grown lettuce on the Knoxville 
market. The lettuce was most attractive in appearance. 
It appealed to consumers who wanted several heads, and 
by watering the balls of earth they could keep the heads 
crisp and tender until the last leaf was consumed. This 
plan of marketing also enables the grocer to keep the 
plants for several days, if necessary, in a perfectly fresh 
condition. While there are some arguments in favor of 
pot culture, it has not appealed to commercial growers. 
This method necessarily involves more labor in growing 
