THE WEIGHING OE MARKET HAY. 



9 



as the official method in several of the large markets and rules de- 

 signed to make it accurate and reliable have been adopted by the 

 various exchanges and boards of trade. 



The most important provisions of these rules are those relative to 

 the balancing and adjusting of the scales, the correct allowance for 

 the weight of the trucks, the correct weighing of each draft, the 

 proper tabulation of the weights, the accurate totaling of the number 

 of bales weighed and of the weights of all the drafts, and the trans- 

 mission of the official weights to the proper officers. 



Pig. 4. — Improper method of weighing hay on trucks. The trucker should place the 

 truck on the scale and remain away from it while it is being weighed. 



BALANCING AND ADJUSTING THE SCALES. 



When official weights are to be obtained it is usually required that 

 the scales be examined to see that they are in order, are free from dirt 

 or other obstructions, and are in balance. They should also be tested 

 frequently with one or more of the standard 50-pound test weights. 



After the .scales are balanced and adjusted the trucks are weighed 

 and adjusted until their weight is uniform. The weights of the 

 trucks are adjusted to uniformity, usually by adding or taking off a 

 washer or two usually kept at hand for that purpose. It frequently 

 happens, however, that nails or bolts are used in making the adjust- 

 ment, and a sufficient number are tied to the frames of the various 

 trucks until all are of equal weight. When all are found to weigh 

 55479°— 21 2 



