FACTORY OPERATIONS. H 



is taken out of a given load and poured into a box having a bottom 

 perforated with No. :i holes. If, as the result of shaking, one-half or 

 more of the peas pass through the sieve the highest price is paid; if 

 tea than one-half of the peas pass through the sieve and they are 

 fairly soft the second price is paid; if the peas be overripe or hard 

 tin- lowc-t price i- paid. This method is used by a number of fac- 

 torie- and. although not perfect, is an improvement over the other two. 



A fourth method i- to take a sample from each load during the 

 thrashing and run it through the grader. The sample usually 

 weigh- 1" pound-, and the screens in the grader correspond to those 

 u-ed in tin- faetory. The weights of the five grades are taken sepa- 

 rately and the price i- eMabli.-hed upon the percentage of the different 

 Bizefl of peas. Some faetorir- modify this procedure slightly by 

 rating Nos. 1 and -J together and Nos. I and 5 together, thus making 

 three grade- in tfUA ifl the la-i- for payment. The greater the per- 

 centage of tin- -mallei- sixes of pea-, the higher the price paid for a 

 l>u-hel. Thi- method Beemfl the fairest of those now in general use. 



The fifth method for payment i- la>ed upon quality, rather than 

 upon -i/.e. M in three of the methods de.-eribed, in which it is 

 a umed that -mall DM If a-- ociated with immaturity and tender- 

 iimption whicli '.- not a I way- in accordance with facts. 

 Large peas may le a- -oft and lender as the small ones, and small 

 pea- may he a- hard a- tho-- that are overripe. This method con- 

 eists in taking a fe\ rin a- a -ample from each load, shelling the 

 pea- and placing them in a cylinder which has a perforated bottom 

 and i- -u-peiided in a -alt -olution. If the pea- are young and tender 

 a large percentage will lloat in a weak hrine. If they are older or 

 second grade they will sink in a light solution, but will float in a 

 heavier one. If old, hard, or overripe they will sink in the heavier 

 -olution. The den-ity of the-e -ohiiions is varied within narrow 

 limit- for the early and late varietie- of peas, and is discussed in 

 more detail under grading in the factory (page 13). 



Thi- method i- expedition-, and experience has shown that it is as 

 nearly accurate in pi-act ice a- the fourth method of grading based on 

 size. The ideal grading -ystem -hould be based on a combination of 

 size and weight. 



FACTORY OPERATIONS. 



viMM. oi: i ii HASH i N(;. 



The -epa ration of the peas from the pods and vines is accom- 

 plished by a -ingle operation. The viner is an ingenious though 

 -imple piece of mechani-m. consisting of an outer cylinder having 

 torations of such size that peas will pass readily through, but 

 which will retain the pods and vines, and an inner cylinder upon 



