MARKETS AND MARKETING I07 



polishing, sometimes making use of a slight per- 

 centage of lime with the other ingredients used, 

 beans will not grow moldy, nor in any way seriously 

 discolor, provided proper storage is observed. 



The fully cleaned beans are placed in bags, usu- 

 ally holding 160 pounds, sometimes 165 to 168 pounds, 

 and are then ready for market. There is little or no 

 loss to the holder on account of storing beans 

 provided the stock is perfectly cured when thrashed. 

 But if this is not the case the beans may sour and 

 become unsalable. In a good many instances beans 

 are stored in farmers' granaries for several years at 

 a stretch without particular difference in appear- 

 ance, although such beans will not cook as well. 



Beans are bought from the farmers on a hand 

 picked basis in both New York and Michigan. The 

 grower brings the samples to the buyer who tests 

 them and states whether they will lose i, 3 or 5 

 pounds on account of damaged or discolored beans ; 

 a certain measure is taken, perhaps a quart, and 

 the poor beans removed. These are carefully 

 weighed on a delicate balance, so that it is possible 

 to compute the number of pounds of poor beans in 

 a bushel, as delivered by the farmer, a quart being 

 regarded as a fair sample. This estimated number 

 of pounds of poor beans in a bushel is charged 

 against the seller at 5 cents a pound. For example, 

 if it is determined that 3 pounds of poor beans are 

 to be picked out of a bushel, and the beans are sold 

 at an agreed price of $1.40 a bushel, they will net 

 the farmer $1.25. If the price is $1.25 for choice 

 hand picked, and they lose 3 pounds, the farmer 

 would receive $1.10 for the bushel. 



