A B C OF FLORIDA TRUCKING 57 



next with the butts up, and vice versa until the crate is 

 filled ; the top layer should have the butts up. In packing 

 always jar the crate several times, as this packs the lettuce 

 down, so the crate will go into market full, which is a 

 very important thing, as any commission man will tell you 

 that a crate of lettuce three-quarters full will not bring more 

 than half the price that a well packed, full crate will. You 

 should make two grades of the lettuce, packing the extra 

 fancy to itself and marking it either fancy or with your 

 trade mark. 



INSECTS AND DISEASES. 



The only insect that attacks lettuce in this State is the 

 green cabbage worm or looper, and a solution of arsenate 

 of lead and water, mixed as directed in the chapter on in- 

 secticides and applied with a spray pump will stop them. 



The greatest drawback to lettuce growing in this sec- 

 tion of the country is a disease known among the truckers 

 as "damping off." This is a kind of mold or fungus which 

 attacks the plant from the bottom, and is not particular 

 whether the lettuce is ready to be cut for shipping or half 

 grown, and it is very destructive. I have seen it destroy 

 several acres at a time, but I am thankful to say that there 

 is a remedy for it, which is nearly an absolute preventive. 

 Make the lettuce land up in ridges about one to one and a 

 half inches high, having these ridges the distance apart you 

 wish the rows, and set the plants on top of them, and in this 

 way you can keep the ground under the leaves well stirred 

 until the lettuce is cut, and as long as you keep the soil well 

 stirred under the leaves the fungus can not form under them. 



VARIETIES. 



There are several kinds of lettuce recommended for 

 planting in Florida for shipping to market, but the Big Bos- 

 ton, California Cream Butter and the Florida Perfect are the 



