STANDARDS FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 91 
ping quality. A plant shall be considered as dam- 
aged by a seed stem when the flower buds are dried 
or have opened, or when the seed stem extends above 
-the top of the plant when the leaves are folded to- 
gether around the seed stem, or when the removal of 
part of the seed stem has caused the appearance of 
the plant to be materially injured. 
UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR LETTUCE 
(Effective Mar. 15, 1934) 
INTRODUCTION 
Numbers and letters in parentheses following grade 
terms indicate where such terms are defined on pages 
93 to 95, inclusive, under Definitions of Terms. 
The tolerances for the various grades are placed on 
a container basis. However, for a tolerance of 10 
percent, individual packages in any lot may not con- 
tain more than one and one-half times the tolerance 
specified, and for one of less than 10 percent individ- 
ual packages in any lot may not contain more than 
double the tolerance specified, provided that the en- 
tire lot based on sample inspection shall average 
within the tolerances specified. 
GRADES 
U.S. Fancy shall consist of heads of lettuce of simi- 
lar varietal characteristics (1) which are fresh (2), 
firm (3), well formed (4), and well trimmed (5); 
which are not split, burst (6), or open; and which 
are free from decay, tipburn, russet, brown blight, 
doubles (7), and from damage (8) caused by seed 
stems (8a), broken midribs (8b), freezing (5 and 
8c), dirt (8d), sunburn (5 and 8e), discoloration (5 
and 8), disease, aphis (8f) or other insects, or me- 
chanical or other means (8). | 
In order to allow for variations incident to proper 
grading and handling, not more than 10 percent, by 
count, of the heads in any container may be below 
the requirements of this grade, but not more than 
one-half of this tolerance, or 5 percent, shall be 
allowed for decay affecting the compact portion of 
the head. Of this tolerance for decay, not more than 
two-fifths or 2 percent, shall be allowed for slimy 
decay. 
