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MARKETING MUCK LAND CROPS 



you have a cold storage, it is practically impossible to have lettuce 

 on hand at all times of the season. I know a dealer who grows 

 lettuce on about forty acres every year. His plans are to make two 

 to three sowings per week, yet I have known that man to be out of 

 lettuce two weeks at a time. Weather conditions may bring sowings 

 two weeks apart to maturity at the same time. However, if you can 

 store ahead, a splendid trade can be worked up in small orders. 



The changes in prices usually are brought on in this way. Our 

 market generally opens on lettuce in July. The early part of this 

 month we get fair returns. As August advances, our large lettuce is 

 scalded. Moisture getting into the head and the hot sun beating 

 on it rot it. We set it aside and wait for the next sowing. That, 

 perhaps, is in the same condition, but everybody is calling for let- 

 tuce. We look over our field and think it not fit. A neighbor gets 

 good money, then we all make a rush and cut stuff we know is not 

 fit to ship. In a short time, every market is filled with goods that 

 ought not to have left our fields. Here is where the growers fall 

 down. They will not market diseased lettuce as diseased lettuce. 

 Every grower of lettuce should make it his aim to grade his lettuce. 

 Never market lettuce as fancy unless it is strictly fancy. As to the 

 kind of package, I like the box better than the hamper. It carries 

 better and can be loaded better. 



Grading. Get familiar with what the first grade of lettuce means. 

 It is the best that the trade wants, 24 to a large box or 22 to 24 in a 

 half barrel hamper, and of excellent quality. Whenever I have 

 extra fancy lettuce, I use a label, and with that I also guarantee the 

 contents, agreeing to replace it if not found as represented. I have 

 not been able to use it the past two years. Whenever that label does 

 appear, I know that I can realize good results on it. 



Whenever you ship to a commission man or dealer, wire him 

 just how many you ship, and the grades. If you do that, nine times 

 out of ten he is able to sell the goods long before they arrive, and at 

 better prices than otherwise. In loading lettuce, ventilation must 

 be given lengthwise of the car, in order to get cold air from the ice 

 box into the center of the car. Load as you cut, unless you have a 

 place to precool. If you can precool, I think there is the secret of 

 success. 



In shipping, many growers say, "I am going to scatter my ship- 

 ments." It is a good thing to get posted on all markets, and it is 

 well to be in touch with some firm in each of the large consuming 



