Gunnison news-champion., 1921-09-30

many varying types Of head lettuce
When head lettuce began to be
popular with the housewife out West.
a few year ago. gardeners in Denver
and Pueblo districts started growing
this crop TO supply the local marke;
calls In testing out various kinds.
they finally found tha; which seeemd
10 satisfy local demands Some en-
terprising and far-seeing Wholesale
lettuce handlers introduced acres of
proven types Of head lettuce on the
higher lands above Florence and Can
on City reaching some IS to 30 miles
back in the hills" This is the re-
xion generally known as the Hard
scrabble District" Within 4 COM
paratvely short time a commercial
acreage was established tina; started
the higher altitude lettuce movement.
Time Of Marketing an Asset
The higher lettuce can not well be
planted before May and experienced
growers sem 10 think that later plant
ings are productive of better heads
This brings the commercial crop 10
market IN August and September. IL
is at this time that . very limited
amount OF head lettuce can be found
any where in the country. Therefore.
the demand exceeds the supply and
prices for head lettuce are attractive.
Until the suppy meets the demand,
one can reasonably expect prices 70
encourage increased production
Buena Vista is Head Lettuce Center
In the spring of 1919. VIM. Isabel,
r.iost successful head lettuce grower
from the Canon City-Florcnce region,
rented ten acres of land near Buena
Vista and made a success of that
seasons crop. The man Of whom he
rented. and himself started the let
tuce business IN a commercial way in
1920 at Buena Vista by planting $50
acres. They planted a good type and
Il was a favorable season. no hot days
with cool nights prevailing through
out the growing season The type
planted headed well and some IS
cars were sent out to market. These
crisp, firm heads were packed in
crates and shipped under ice in re-
figcrator cars from 1000 to 1900
miles. The firm that handled their
test crop Of 1919 handled the CONNER
cial crop of 1920. The quality of tho
Mountain Lettuce" as the trade call
ell it, secured a reputation on the
market all its own and repeat orders
followed in quick succession. Whole
sale trade calling for mountain lettuce
had become SO general by the winter
Of la20-2i that produce dealers in
our Colorado market ccnters decided
To test out this crop in such districts
above 1000 feet as gave any promise
Of commercial success.
Lettuce Growing Now Business
One large handler of produce said
TO the writer: "This mountain head
game, Ohm. is not fad or a fancy.
The housewife has learned the superi-
ority of head lettuce over ordinary
leaf lettuce for table use and the de-
mand for this produce has come to
stay. 1t is up to US dealers to Sc
cure as much of the trade for Colo
RADIO as we can. Our high altitude
lettuce has a crispness, brittleness
and favor that puts it in class by
by itself. We are testing out districts
to find out where the best can be
grown and what particular type of
head lettuce will produce in certain
districts. the highest quality for the
trade These commercial tests were
in 1921 and made in the following dis
tricts:
l. Buena Vista
2. Goose Greek, near Wagon
Wheel Gap.
Westcliffe- Hillside-Wet Noun
tain Valley.
!. Hardscrabble District, near
Florence and Canon City.
s. Granite
8. Riverside
I. Avon-Alleton District
On the ID. & r. G. w. railroad.
With the exception of Avon, which
is 1900 feet, all. the districts are