OCR Text |
Show Farmer May Use Facilities Of Department Depart-ment Of Agriculture The department's Hureau ot Plant Industry has ono office which is taken up with tho subject ot grain stand-ardlzatlon, stand-ardlzatlon, and tho purpose of its in-' in-' estigat!ons may bo grouped under th.eo heads, no followo: 1. To improve tho methods ot harvesting, har-vesting, hnndllng, storing, and transporting trans-porting of grain so that it will bo ot x better grade when it reaches tho consumer or tho primary market. 2 To e3tnblish definite standards for tho grading of commercial grain on such a basis that will cnablo tho producer and cousumor, as well as tho dealer to determine tho correct grade of any given lot of grain. 3 Through a definite system ot grading, uniform throughout tho United Uni-ted States, to oncourago tho production produc-tion and marketing ot grain of bettor quality. In these investigations a stui7y U made of all factors entering into and affecting tho commercial grade of com, wheat, oats, barloy, rye, rice flaxseed, Knflr, etc., from tho tlmo of harvesting until delivered to tho consumer. Tests n:o mado to determlno tho changes which tako placo in grain during storage on the farm or in elevators ele-vators or warehouses at country stations sta-tions and terminal markets. This samo work is nlso oxtendod to gr.ilu in transit in cms and In trans Atlantic Atlan-tic steamships with tho vlow of reducing re-ducing tho enormous losses now resulting re-sulting from tho heating nnd spoil-ing spoil-ing ot Inrgo quantities of grnln before be-fore it is finally disposed of In that losses of this character ar0 fluhlly, charged back to tho farmer in tho lower prico ho receives for his grain. Tests aro made to dotormino tho rate and degreo of damage in tho various va-rious grades of commercial grain, nnd in the farm Btudles special consideration considera-tion has been given to such problema as the loss in weight of com from tho tlmo ot cribbing until it is markotod. Emphasis is placed on methods which enable tho producer, by marketing dry, sound, and clean grain, to do-maud do-maud a premium for such grain, ns -well as tho high commercial grade (F to which ho Is entitled. At tho country clovator a study is mado of tho quality and condition of grain as received from the farmer, farm-er, followed by Investigations ns to methods of handling through tho clc-utor, clc-utor, Including cleaning, drying, preparation pre-paration for shipment, and loading into in-to cars. Infoimatlon, Is given as to such methods nnd practices as will present deterioration and consequent lowering ot grado when it shall reach the terminal market. Examinations are mado of samples submitted as to quality nnd condition, including mols turo test, nnd reports nro Issued tr. tho submitter which cn.'iblo him tu know thu grade to which hj Is entitled en-titled on his grain. Information Is furnished rolatho to natural shrlnk-ngo shrlnk-ngo of grain In transit; Influence- on grado of temperaturo and season, moisture content, and soundness; quality and condition of American ox-port ox-port grain under arying conditions of stowage, length of ojage, etc.; the quality" and condition of grain Imported Im-ported Into tho United States and the effect ot such Importation on gra'n nnd market value of domestic grain. Facts aro secured based on .'ictua1, tostn ns to tho rolntlon botwoen thtj milling and baking vuluo of wheat to commercial grado; likewise, between grade and feeding aho of sound nnd unsound corn, and natuial and bleach ed oats, and lnquiiles rc'ntho to theso subjects nro nnsworod through this office. In terminal markets, practically all factors entering into the methods of handling, grading, nnd transportation of grain, and tho fixing of definite grades thereof, are Btudled in detail. Tests hro made for soundness, mols-turo mols-turo content, weight per bushel, nnd mixtures ot other grains, Impurities etc. Weekly News Letter. |