The Glenwood post., 1922-03-23
Many Points Brought Out Valuable to
Those Who Will Embark in
This New Industry
INTENSE INTEREST THROUGHOUT

That was livery meeting held at
the Glenwood Motor club Wednesday
evening for the discussion of the head
lettuce industry, and what it may
mean to Glenwood, Carbondale and
nearby points.
The meeting was called to order by
7. j. Bennett, who then called on Prof
w. II. Olin, who was asked to preside.
Prof. Olin spoke interestingly but brief
ly on the subject and then introduced
DR.. E. P. Sandsten, state horticultural,
in charge of the fruit and vegetable
work at the State Agricultural college.
DR.. Sandsten spoke of the wonderful
quality of the lettuce that may be
grown in the high attitudes Of Colo
rado, and of the profit in the industry,
but he likewise reminded his hearers
that there were some pitfalls in con
nection with the effort to produce let
tuce successfully, and these he pointed
out to them in his very interesting ad-
dress. The industry is new one, but
growing rapidly and while we shipped
from the start last year 224 cars of the
finest of lettuce to markets all over
the country, he predicted that this year
the output will reach 1900 carloads.
''Do not engage in the culture of
head lettuce unless you are prepared
to put Yourself in a prayerful attitude
and do the work that head lettuce re.
qu'res, and do much of it ON your
knees,' was part of his advice to
his listeners.
Head lettuce requires a cool climate,
so that heads and not seed stalks NAV
be produced. A temperature of 40 to
so degrees is the best suited To its
culture. The aspen soil of the noun
tains, with its fine leaf mold, is ad.
mirably suited to the culture of head
lettuce, which must have fertile soil
and careful culture.
The preparation of the ground is an
important item, and it is impossible to
get the soil too finely pulverized. This
requires much patient work. IF you
desire horse labor, have the rows three
1eet apart, and the plants set twelve
Inches apart in the rows, and use n
fine cultivator that will just scratch
the surface soil and keep it mellow and
moist. Eight to ten civilizations are
not too many. If you hand work. YOU
may plant the rows twenty inches apart
with the plants twenty inches apart in
the row, and cultivate with a small
push cuitivator like the Iron Age or
fianet Jr., and in this way you may
grow great deal more lettuce to the
acre, but the process is more laborious
Don It try to grow too large an acre
age; don't undertake too much until
you get well started through expert
ence and study. Look well after de.
tails If you would make the greatest
success of. the undertaking. Only
twenty per cent Of the crop grown in
Colorado last year was marketed. due
to the lack of care and knowledge on
the subject.
In order to help the industry the
college will establish small experi.
ment station at Buena Vista, and will
especially investigate the seed question
and will aim TO produce the best seed
possible-seed that will grow Freely
and that will produce lettuce that will
head.
Another plant the people of this sec.
tion should be interested in is cauli.
flower, as you have no idea Of the
profits in growing cauliflower. But
this, like lettuce growing, must be
learned, and the speaker advised that IL
be undertaken on q small scale 1t firss
perhaps a quarter to . half ssrs By
| esch grower. IIrI
In answer TO = question Dr.. sa.dsten