MARKETING LETTUCE 
13 
lettuce crate holding 3 to 6 dozen heads, particularly in the West- 
ern States. The following inside dimensions seem suitable: (1) 
2-dozen crate, 19 by 16 by 7 x / 2 inches inside, and (2) 3 to 6 dozen 
crate, 23% by 18 by 13 inches. 
The 5-peck and 1^-bushel hampers are gradually losing favor in 
the Southeastern States as shipping containers for lettuce. The 
principal objections to the hamper are that it is not so sturdy as 
the crate, its shape makes it more difficult to load than a rectilinear 
package, it does not allow sufficient ventilation of the contents, and 
does not permit the lettuce to be displayed as effectivel}'. The 
hamper also lends itself readily to deceptive packing. The nature of 
Fig. 8. — Two-dozen flat crate, ready for lidding 
the container is such as to encourage the tendency of some packers 
to conceal small or defective stock in the bottom or center. 
PACKING IN HAMPERS 
When packing in hampers, the packer folds the outer leaves about 
the head and pushes it firmly down into the package. The bottom 
layer, usually consisting of two or three heads, is packed with the 
stems down, the second layer with the stems up, thus alternating 
in each succeeding layer except the top layer which is always packed 
with the stems up. Medium to large sizes, ranging from 26 to 40 
heads to the hamper, are packed with 7 heads in the top layer. 
Small sizes, which range up to 5% dozen or more to the hamper, 
usually are packed with 9 heads in the top layer. When the top 
is put in place the hamper is jarred gently to settle the lettuce, and 
the crossed wires are then pulled tightly across the cover. The pack 
