SELLING GRAIN BY WEIGHT OR MEASURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2028, 24 August 1880, Page 3

SELLING GRAIN BY WEIGHT OR MEASURE.

Tho Weights and Measures Act, which became law on the Ist day of January, 1879, seems to be almost entirely inoperative. We asked a corn merchant ’ately what changes or improvements had been made in com transactions by tho recent Act, and ho replied that no improvement had been made, and that local customs still prevail. The old Act that came in force on the Ist day of January, 1826 (Acts Geo, IY., o. 74, and Goo. IV., c. 12, 17th Juno, 1824) effected a groat improvement in the then existing state of things. The provisions of that Act were mainly the following:—Tho inch is the one thirtysixth part of Bird’s standard yard and measure of length. Tbo statute or imperial acre is 4480 square yards. The standard brass weight of 11b. troy, in the custody of tho clerk of the House of Commons, is the genuine measure of weight, and consists of 5760 grains. The pound avoirdupois consists of 7000 of these grains, which is almost the universal legalised standard in use. The measures of capacity for liquids and dry goods is the pint of 34.659 cubic inches, but the gallon may be said to bo the unit or standard measure, having a capacity of 277'274 cubic inches ; and when filled with distilled water, at the temperature of 62aeg. Fahrenheit, it holds a weight of 101 b. The corn bushel of Bgal. weighs 801 b., and has a capacity of 2178 cubic inches. There is obviously a reluctance to sell corn by weight only, although it is a more approximate index of value than measure. It is common in some districts to sell wheat by weight, the’"quarter being reckoned 4961bs or 5041bs avoirdupois. Again, oats are also commonly sold by weight, but barley is very generally sold and bought by measure, Considering these and other diversities in com transactions, it would be easy to adopt the plan which is very generally followed in the best corngrowing districts in Scotland, namely, to sell by measure, and the price to fluctuate according to the natural weight of the bushel. This system has wrought fairly since it was introduced into general practice in tho north, and disputes rarely occur. Tho following are some of tho advantages of the plan : 1. It holds out great inducements to the farmer to drees corn well, and a marked improvement took place in the cleaning after it became tho rule. The increase of weight being a greater consideration for the seller than any increase of measure by the retention of the tails and the light grains, it needs no persuasion to dress corn thoroughly. 2. The equity of the plan between the buyer and seller is a great recommendation. Measure with reference to tho natural weight of the bushel of corn is certainly a good criterion of value.

3. In awarding prizes for seed-corn, the agricultural societies of the north almost invariably award the prizes according to the natural weight of the bushel of dressed corn. That that is a good criterion of the soundness of seed all will bo ready to admit, for the almost empty glumes cannot be expected to develop a strong germ and radicle. 4. If the scheme were generally adopted corn averages could be more precisely ascertained, and prices on a given market day would be more uniform. It is not, indeed, to ho assumed that two samples of wheat, each 631bs. per bushel, would be exactly of the same value or command the same price in the Corn Exchange, but it would lead to a greater accordance, which must be considered an advantage.

5. That the weight is governed not less by the condition than by the quality and dressing of corn, is another recommendation in favor of transactions being carried ont on the plan suggested.’ l Corn in a moist state being lighter than when dry, owing to the water swelling the kernel, a smaller number of grains fill the bushel.

6. Some may allege that there would be a difficulty in determining the precise weight of the bushel of corn, on which the price more or less depends ; but in practice, and with well-trained hands, that has not boon found to bo the case. We know an instance that lately occurred, where the seller complained that his oats did not weigh 42£lbs. per bushel, while the receipt from the miller showed only 421bs. On a second delivery of oats, precisely similar, it was found that the four bushels as delivered weighed 1681b5., being exactly 421bs.—all further complaints were silenced. The mode of adjusting the price according to the weight is somewhat as follows : —Wheat weighing say GOlbs. per bushel, would command say 50s per quarter, and if the natural weight is 611b5., the price would be 51s Gd or 53s per quarter, according to the scale agreed on for the particular season. Again, barley 501bs. per bushel would be worth say 40s per quarter ; but if it should weigh 51, 62, or 531b5., the buyer would have to pay an increased price according to an understood rule.

7. It may be further explained that, as heavy corn yields more fine flour or meal, proportionally according to its weight, than that which is naturally lighter, the scale of payment is often increased in a proportionably greater ratio. Fine heavy wheat, for example, will yield 75 per cent, of fine flour, while an inferior quality, say of 581bs per bushel, will produce only 54 to 60 per cent, of flour. The same remark may be made respecting oats —a quarter weighing 401bs per bushel will yield about 1861bs of meal, while oats weighing 441bs per bushel will produce say 32Ibs more meal from tho quarter. The assumed aggregate weight of tho one quarter of oats is 3201ba, and the other 3521b5; so that the extra yield of tho meal would be equal to the extra weight of the oats.—Mr T. Bowick in the “Newcastle Farmers’ Club Annual.”