Lettuce 



L523 



tour hundred boxes. The hampers may be placed on top of the 

 boxes in the ends of the car, near the ice chests. See that the latter 

 are tilled before starting' and keep well iced in transit. 



MARKETING 



The marketing of this as well 

 as other perishable crops is a 

 large factor governing either the 

 success or failure of the propo- 

 sition. 



There are two ways in which 

 the marketing may be done : con- 

 tracting the entire crop at the 

 beginning of the season, or ship- 

 ping on commission. Occasion- 

 ally a buyer will purchase a crop 

 in the field when it is ready to be 



moved. Which of these methods . 



Fig. 468. — A Well-Developed Head 



is the best is a question which of Hanson Lettuce. The Plant is 

 every grower must decide for 0vER A FoOT AcROSS 

 himself. If he can contract at a fair price to a thoroughly reliable 

 party, he is sure of a market for his product ; but if the " high 

 spots " in the market outnumber the " low " ones he will do better 

 to sell on the open market. 



A WORD OF WARNING 



To those who have never played " the lettuce game " but are 

 contemplating doing so, we would like to make a few suggestions: 

 Fertilize and prepare the ground carefully ; spare no time or 

 expense in caring for and working the crops thoroughly ; have 

 in readiness all the necessary packages and equipment for ship- 

 ping a maximum crop. While doing this, cultivate that sweet, 

 sunny disposition which will enable you to smile as you quietly 

 tell your man, " Plow under the whole crop," when you notice 

 some morning that it has " all gone wrong." Or, if you are 

 fortunate enough to escape all the lettuce diseases and harvest a 

 banner crop of elegant heads which fill to bursting your boxes, 

 you must be optimistic enough, on receipt of the following wire 



