B. P. I.— 54. B. I. E.— 50. 



THE COMMERCIAL GRADING OF CORN. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The business of buying and selling- grain is one of enormous impor- 

 tance in this country. The production of breadstuff's is not the only 

 thing to be considered in supplying the world with food. It is neces- 

 sary that the raw material be moved to the points where it is needed 

 and in most cases it must be milled before it is consumed. 



The business of moving this grain from producer to manufacturer 

 or consumer has been developed to a high degree. There are in 

 nearly all our larger cities, particularly in those through which grain 

 passes on its way to the consumer, either domestic or foreign, trade 

 organizations whose members deal either wholly or partly in grain. 

 These organizations are important to the producer as well as to the con- 

 sumer, since they furnish the means for easy communication between 

 the two and tend to prevent acute conditions of scarcity or congestion 

 of material. 



These organizations have adopted certain rules of trade which aim 

 to permit their members to transact the largest amount of business 

 with the least expense and friction. They have among 1 other things 

 established rules governing the classification and grading of the grain 

 which they handle and the inspection of it. and providing for its 

 weighing and registration. 



These classes and grades of grain have been established to facilitate 

 trade and as far as possible to dispense with the cumbersome method 

 of dealing by sample. In some markets the inspection and grading 

 have been developed to such a degree and work so satisfactorily that 

 grain which is deliverable on contract is never shown by sample. 

 The dealers depend wholly upon the honesty and efficiency of their 

 inspection departments. In other markets this is not the case. The 

 purchases, at least those made for consumption or manufacture in the 

 latter markets, are made on the basis of sample and frequently regard- 

 less of the grade assigned by the inspection department. 



It is customary for the trade organization in each market to estab- 

 lish for each kind of grain what is known as the "contract grade." 



!» 



