LETTUCE 229 
however, that lettuce which is to be sold by weight is 
cut in less than six weeks from setting in the beds, and 
sometimes it is given 12 to 14 weeks in order that maxi- 
mum weights may be obtained. 
Records made at The Pennsylvania State College show 
how rapidly plants gain in weight after they have been 
in the beds about four weeks. For example, Grand Rapids 
lettuce, which had been growing in the beds for four 
weeks, was cut February 15, and the plants averaged 
three ounces each. February 22, another lot of plants 
Fig. 78.—Grand Rapids lettuce. 
of the same age, were cut from the same bed, and they 
averaged 4 5-6 ounces per plant. February 29, a third 
lot was harvested, and these averaged 714 ounces per 
plant. There was much sunshine during the two-week 
period and, as the figures indicate, the growth was rapid. 
It will be observed, too, that the gain in weight was much 
greater during the second week. The lettuce was sold 
at 12 cents a pound. It was large enough at four weeks 
from planting to satisfy local markets, but a gain of 1.7 
cents a plant per week was made by holding it for a 
longer period. The plants were set 8 by 8 inches apart 
and the weekly gain per 100 square feet was $3.83. On 
an acreage basis the gain per week would be over $1,500. 
It will be seen at once why most of the large growers who 
