568 



THE SMALL GRAINS 



626. Commercial classes of grains. In commerce, 

 the grains are valued according to the qualities fitting 

 them for actual consumption, and to some extent, ac- 

 cording to their appearance. Their classification by 

 commercial men, therefore, is made independent of 

 agronomic characters or botanic relations, though it 



FIG. 173. Interior of grain elevator at Portland, Maine. Discharging 

 grain from elevator to belts. 



will often be found that the commercial and agronomic 

 groupings correspond. No doubt grain grading will be- 

 come more perfect, the nearer becomes the correspondence 

 between the commercial and agronomic classification. 



The established commercial classes of grain vary some- 

 what at the different grain centers, but at present those 

 most generally recognized in this country are about as 

 follows : 



