BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. 155 



farmers' grain bins. The experiments are not yet completed, but 

 the results so far obtained indicate that heat damage resulting in 

 low-grade wheat can be prevented through proper ventilation. Mill- 

 ing, baking, and chemical tests on samples of wheat in various 

 degrees of heat damage were made and the data were assembled for 

 use in connection with the enforcement of the United States grain 

 standards act. 



IMPROVED METHODS OF HANDLING GRAIN. 



Much assistance was rendered to the grain industry in the Pacific 

 Northwest in connection witli the movement that is going on in that 

 section of changing over from the sack method to the bulk method of 

 handling grain. Investigations to determine the savings effected in 

 the handling, storing, smutting, and grading of grain in bulk were 

 conducted, and the results were made available to the grain trade, 

 including the producers. 



IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN GRAIN-GRADING EQUIPMENT. 



Improvement was made in the design of grain-grading equip- 

 ment; plug gauges were developed for determining the accuracy of 

 the dockage testing sieves; a mold was developed for testing the 

 accuracy of moisture flasks; gas-pressure governors were installed 

 on the moisture testers in the offices of Federal gi-ain supervision 

 located in the Corn Belt and at the export market; and a new steel 

 probe for sampling grain in cars was developed. Specifications for 

 improved grain-grading equipment were prepared for use in secur- 

 ing uniform apparatus and the specifications were made public. 



APPEALS FROM GRADE ASSIGNED BY LICENSED INSPECTORS. 



During the fiscal year a total of 25,501 appeals were taken from 

 inspections performed by licensed inspectors. Of this number 573 

 went to board appeal. Approximate^ 45 per cent of appeals filed on 

 all grains were sustained ; that is, the inspector's grade was changed 

 and superseded by Federal-appeal grade certificates. In the case of 

 sustained appeals no charge is made to the appellant, but in the 

 remaining 55 per cent of appeals called which were not sustained 

 fees were assessed and the sum of $32,471.16 was covered into the 

 Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. 



VIOLATIONS OF THE GRAIN STANDARDS ACT. 



Fifteen cases of violation of section 4 of the law were filed by the 

 United States attorney at Nashville against five defendants who 

 pleaded guilty to the informations filed against them. A case in- 

 vohnng 22 specific violations of the law is now pending in the De- 

 partment of Justice awaiting prosecution. Five cases involving 

 violation of section 5 of the act, which covers the raisrepresentatioii 

 of the grade of grain, as well as alteration of inspection certificates, 

 were concluded during the year, and the Secretary published his 

 findings, which is the penalty provided by law. In addition, the 

 facts were published in connection with the plugging of several 

 carloads of wheat with low-grade grain in the bottom of the cars. So- 

 called plugged-car cases continue to come to our attention, and con- 

 siderable effort has been spent during the year to break up this 



