HAXDLIXG LETTUCE AXD CELERY. 
indicate, i. e., a total decay of 5.1 per cent in the precooled carefully 
cut lot, as against 44.5 per cent in the nonprecooled commercially 
cut lettuce. As the latter is the common method of cutting and 
shipping lettuce, it is obvious that careful cutting and precooling 
eliminate a very large part of the decay that usually develops in 
transit. 
Table II. — Average percentages of decay in nine experimental lots of carefully cut and com- 
mercially cut lettuce shipped to northern markets during the season of 19 13-1 4. l 
Treatment. 
At withdrawal. 
Three days after 
withdrawal. 
Carefully 
CUt. 
Commer- 
cially cut. 
Carefully Commer- 
cut. " ,ciallycut. 
Nonprecooled: 
Heads showing slight drop rot , per cent. . 
Heads showing medium drop rot do 
Heads showing complete drop rot do 
7=9 
.9 

24.2 
16.9 
3.4 
11.7 
3.3 
.3 
30.3 
19.6 
5.9 
Total drop rot do 
S.S 
44.5 
15.3 
55.8 
Precooled: 
Heads showing slight drop rot do 
Heads showing medium drop rot do 
Heads showing complete drop rot do 
4 :I 

20.6 
6.3 
.3 
S.5 
1.4 

26.8 
8.3 
1.6 
Total drop rot do 
51 
27.2 
9.9 
36.7 
1 Xo record of bacterial decay was obtained in these lots. 
In addition to the factors recorded above, the difference in appear- 
ance of the various lots was a point of great importance in determining 
their market value. 
Figure 7 shows the 
general appearance of 
the different lots at 
the first inspection. 
In almost every case 
the carefully cut lots 
were far more attrac- 
tive, not only because 
less decayed but also 
because the he ads 
were cleaner owing to 
the removal of the 
dirty lower leaves. 
The lettuce in the 
precooled hampers 
was also in much 
better condition than 
that in the nonpre- 
cooled hampers. Less shriveling, crisper, brighter leaves, and a 
general freshness of appearance, aside from any question of decay, 
10911°— 17— Bull. 601—2 
^!4CD 
JftAiL 
■pABj 
i£Mfe£T*f 
Fig. 7.— Appearance at the first inspection of lettuce handled in the 
following ways: Top hampers, marked "14;" precooled; lower two, 
marked "13," not precooled; the hampers on the left, marked 
"CD," were commercially handled and the two on the right, 
marked "AB " were carefully cut. 
