BUREAU OF MARKETS. 



465 



boxes canceled, and 716 individual samples of the respective stand- 

 ards canceled. Of the boxes canceled, 91.18 per cent were of 'the 

 grades of Middling and below. Of the individual samples canceled, 

 77.09 per cent Avcre of the grades of Middling and below, which 

 indicates that the lower grades deteriorate more rapidly with use 

 than do the higher grades. 



Total distribrifion. of practical forms of the Official Cotton Standards of the 

 United States, by States, to and inelmUiicj -June 30, I'Jll. 



Grand total, grade and color 916 



Grand total, fractional sets, grade and color 124 



UNITED STATES GRAIN STANDARDS ACT. 



The active administration of this act has remained under the direct 

 supervision of the chief of the bureau, assisted chiefly by Mr. George 

 Livingston, and also by Dr. J. W. T. Duvel, and other experts from 

 the grain staff. As the work is entirely new, it is reported in some 

 detail. 



The United States grain standards act was passed on August 11, 

 1916, and the supervision of the inspection and grading of grain 

 under the act was put into active operation December 1, 1916. 



ADMINISTRATION. 



BtTLES AND REGtTLATIONS. 



Tentative rules and regulations for the enforcement of the act 

 were drafted as soon as possible and submitted to the entire grain 

 trade of the country for criticism and suggestion. They involved the 

 study and observation of experts of the Department of Agriculture 

 covering a long period of years. Public hearings were held at im- 

 portant grain markets of the country and were attended by repre- 

 sentative interests among the grain trade. The comments and sug- 

 gestions received at such hearings and by written communication 

 were embodied in the final form of the rules and regulations cover- 



33382°— AGE 1917 30 



