MARKETING OF BUTTER 431 



ply of storage butter, on the market value of fresh goods, and 

 he must above all be a man of superior integrity, honesty and 

 disinterestedness. 



Inspection and Grading. Upon its arrival in the wholesale 

 receiver's hands the butter is inspected and graded. Butter deal- 

 ers have agreed to a standard score card with 100 points as the 

 basis for perfection, and giving certain values to flavor and 

 odor, body and texture, color, salt, and package. 



Most butter exchanges in the larger markets have an offi- 

 cial inspector of butter, whose services are available to the mem- 

 bers of the exchange, for compensation. Butter so inspected is 

 branded with the official stamp of the exchange. The inspector 

 of the New York Mercantile Exchange has a stamp of different 

 shape for each main grade, so as to facilitate the recognition 

 of the grade by the stamp. The great bulk of the butter re- 

 ceived by the wholesale distributors of the larger markets is not 

 subjected to an official inspection by the inspector employed by 

 the wholesale trade organization. Sales, on the negotiation of 

 which official inspection is not requested, are commonly spoken 

 of as being "over-the-trier." The inspection service maintained 

 by the Exchange is largely, if not entirely, for the purpose of in- 

 specting those lots of butter of which inspection is requested 

 by the butter, when purchased under the "Call," as for instance in 

 the case of dispute between the seller and buyer as to grade, or 

 in the case of butter sold to the Government. 



When, in the opinion or judgment of the buyer the butter 

 he receives does not conform in quality with the grade he pur- 

 chased under the "Call," he has the privilege to apply for the 

 services of the official inspector. If the decision of the inspector 

 is not acceptable to either or both of the contracting parties, an 

 appeal may be made from the decision of the inspector, to the 

 chairman of the Butter Committee, who then appoints three 

 members from that committee to inspect the butter in dispute. 

 They report their results to the Superintendent of the Exchange. 

 The decision of this subcommittee is final. 



While there are minor variations in the grades and grading 

 of butter on the different markets, as a whole the classification of 

 grades is very similar in the principal markets throughout the 

 country. 



