6 BULLETIN 980, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in certain markets. A careful investigation has shown that this 

 variation is not due usually to a lack of knowledge on the part of 

 the inspectors but is often accounted for by the general quality of 

 hay received in the market and the demand for certain grades. In- 

 spection is likely to be more strict in a market receiving a large 

 percentage of high-grade hay than in one where the bulk of hay 

 received is of the poorer grades. The trade realizes this and before 

 one purchases hay from a strange market he should familiarize 

 himself with the way in which the rules for grading are interpreted. 



Experience in the hay business and a good character are the chief 

 qualifications for a hay inspector. Inspectors are not allowed to 

 be financially interested directly or indirectly in the hay business, 

 for they must be free from all temptation to commit unfair practices 

 in buying and selling hay. 



The successful inspector, at present, is one whose work satisfies the 

 majority of his employers at least half the time. No efforts have 

 ever been made to train inspectors so that they will know positively 

 that their work is correctly done. At present the only way of testing 

 an inspector's ability is to appoint a committee of hay dealers to see 

 if the inspector grades hay the way they would grade it. Both in- 

 spector and committee might judge hay far from accurately, but 

 would have no way to ascertain each other's inefficiency. Studies in 

 hay standardization have opened up a rather large field regarding 

 possibilities of training men to become proficient inspectors and of 

 aiding inspectors to correct a tendency to overestimate or underesti- 

 mate factors used in judging certain kinds and qualities of hay. 



METHOD OF PAYMENT OF INSPECTORS. 



There are two general methods of paying inspectors, namely, by 

 the fee system and by a specified salary per year. Taking all things 

 into consideration, the straight salary method is probably the most 

 satisfactory. The inspector is certain of a stipulated salary every 

 month, and if the hours of work are not too long, and if the salary 

 is commensurate with the duties required, the inspector should be 

 satisfied and willing to perform his duties accurately. 



The fee system may be objectionable for two reasons: (1) If the 

 inspector's work is heavy there may be a temptation to slight his 

 work in his eagerness to inspect too many cars a day and thus in- 

 crease his earnings ; (2) if an inspector working under the fee sj'stem 

 has comparatively little to do, his earnings become inadequate to 

 support him. Then he is obliged to do other work in connection with 

 his inspection duties to earn an adequate amount. 



PERCENTAGE OF HAY INSPECTED IN TERMINAL MARKETS. 



The percentage of hay inspected in terminal markets varies con- 

 siderably. In a few markets all hay is inspected on arrival. This 



