6 BULLETIN 1412, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
on the margins. The enfolding leaves do not overlap far, so the head 
is more or less open at the center. The interior of the head is a 
golden yellow and appears somewhat oily or buttery. The leaves are 
smooth with a tendency to a bright sheen. 
Big Boston is early and hardy and stands shipping well. It is 
the only variety of importance grown as an open field crop in the 
Eastern and Southeastern States. Attempts have been made in a 
few of these districts to grow other varieties, of the Iceberg or New 
York type, but generally with indifferent success. Climatic condi- 
tions during most of' the growing season in these sections are not 
favorable for the development of firm heads of lettuce of the New 
York type. In the South Central States most of the crop is Big 
Boston, the remainder Iceberg type. 
New York and other varieties of this type are grown almost 
exclusively in the western lettuce-growing States, although it is 
possible in most of the important western sections to produce nearly 
all types with some success. The New York or Los Angeles variety is 
grown mainly for fall and winter shipments, and Iceberg during the 
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Fig. 3. — New York or Iceberg type lettuce 
late spring. A few plantings of Big Boston have been made at times 
in some of these sections. 
The New York variety forms a large, hard, crisp head, which is 
somewhat flattish-globular in shape when mature (fig. 3). the leaves 
are dark green and slightly curled on the edges, overlapping well at 
the crown. The head has a crumpled appearance and is white inside. 
Iceberg is similar to New York. The head is medium large and 
medium green; the leaves wavy, with fringed edges, tinged at the 
margins with brown. 
White Paris Cos is the best known and most popular Cos variety 
in the United States. The common French and Italian name for this 
type is " Romaine " and the two names are often used interchange- 
ably in this country. It is distinguished by its upright habit of 
growth, long loaf -shaped heads, and spatulate leaves. The plant is 
medium large and of a medium green color. The head is not com- 
pact, but is well folded and of good quality (fig. 4). 
Grand Rapids is by far the most popular variety of nonheading 
lettuce in the United States. The leaves are light green, wavy with 
a curled fringe, and when grown under glass are very tender and of 
excellent quality (fig. 5). Grand Rapids is used extensively for 
forcing in greenhouses in the East and Middle West, where heading 
