Homesteading 



A company much advertised is supposed to 

 be more or less co-operative, at least to the ex- 

 tent of many farmers and growers holding shares, 

 and for such as hold the shares it has probably 

 done very well ; but inasmuch as most of the 

 pioneer settlers are too poor to hold shares, it 

 is doubtful if it has helped them much, except 

 as a powerful and keen competitor with other 

 firms. Here, of course, we are up against the 

 world-wide problem of securing fair value for 

 both producer and consumer. As regards the 

 grading, the object is of course to ensure uni- 

 form and reliable quality, in Nos. 1, 2, 3 Northern, 

 and so on down to the poor qualities. 



The same method is in operation for flax, oats, 

 and barley, and of course the Government grade, 

 in conjunction with the quantity and market 

 price, gives the value of any particular car-load. 



The grain for the elevator also passes through 

 this grading process, which seems on the whole 

 admirably arranged. Samples are taken from 

 various parts of the car, and after being carefully 

 examined, the grade is fixed ; and though the 

 grower is often suspicious of graft, as bribery is 

 called, in this matter, he probably has little 

 cause of complaint. 



A car-load may be divided by a partition (erected 

 by the shipper) and contain, say, four hundred 



172 



