12 THE COMMERCIAL GRADING OF CORN. 



the purpose of securing uniformity of work by the various inspection 

 departments. 



Except for the percentage of color permissible in each of two of the 

 classes, there is scarcely a term used in stating these grade require- 

 ments which does not give great latitude for personal interpretation. 

 The terms "reasonably dry" and " reasonably clean" are too indefinite 

 to stand alone as a basis for accurate work. The clause in grade No. 

 3 "but not sufficiently sound and dry for No. 2" is not especially lucid 

 when investigation shows that the corresponding clause of grade No. 

 2 reads "but not sufficiently sound and plump for No. 1," while No. 

 1 requires that the corn shall be "sound," "dry," and "plump." 



Having such indefinite standards to work to and being buffeted 

 about by opposing interests vitally concerned in the decisions which 

 he makes, it does not seem strange that the inspector should .sometimes 

 do inconsistent work, nor is it to be wondered at that the grading of 

 similar lots of grain differs in different markets. 



It is customary in most markets at the present time for the actual 

 work of grading to be done on the railroad track or at the delivery 

 spout of an elevator by a deputy inspector. This deputy must work 

 rapidly, through all kinds of weather and light, in many cases without 

 supervision, and nearly always without apparatus for deciding doubt- 

 ful cases or means of having his judgment corrected in case of error. 

 If his decision is not satisfactory to the interested parties, appeal may 

 be taken or reinspection called for; but the deputy seldom knows 

 directly the results of such appeal or reinspection, and still more 

 rarely does he know the reason for the change, if one is made. 



In some cases shipments from a market are sampled and the samples 

 kept for a time at the main office of the inspection department, partic- 

 ularly in case of cargoes for export; but these samples are taken and 

 kept more for purposes of identification and certification than to edu- 

 cate or correct the judgment of the deputy inspectors. 



The movement of grain from one market to another in this country 

 and from the various interior points to the coast ports for export 

 involves, in the regular course of business, unless it is shipped directly 

 through with its identity preserved, from three to six inspections on 

 any given lot of grain. Where grain is handled wholly in bulk and 

 where it must be transferred from cars to elevators, from elevators to 

 boats, from boats to elevators, and again to cars, and possibly again 

 to elevators before being finally delivered for manufacture or export, 

 preserving its identity involves so much additional trouble and expense 

 that it is not ordinarily done; nor would this be necessary were it 

 possible to maintain a .system of inspection and grading by which 

 commercial grain could be accurately graded according to its com- 

 mercial value. 



Millers and other manufacturers of cereal products, as well as large 



