A MODIFIED BOERNER SAMPLER. 6 



original sample. The original standard design is more complicated 

 to manufacture than the modified sampler here described, but it is so 

 constructed that it is somewhat more convenient to work with. It is 

 used at all offices of Federal Grain Supervision, and is recommended 

 for grain inspection departments and others who have to do a large 

 amount of grading or testing. 



During the past few years the increased cost of material and labor 

 has caused the cost of the original standard device to advance to such 

 an extent that many grain dealers, especially country grain dealers, 

 have not felt justified in purchasing it. 



Following the Department of Agriculture's policy of bringing the 

 equipment necessary for correct grading within the financial reach 

 of all persons concerned, the original standard design for this device 

 has been modified so as to cheapen its construction materially and 

 bring its cost within the reach of all persons interested in grain 

 grading. 



The first essential in the accurate grading of grain is the securing 

 of a representative sample of the lot or parcel of grain to be graded. 

 A representative sample varies in size somewhat as the bulk of the 

 lot to be sampled varies. For the weight per bushel test or dockage 

 determination, the quantity of the sample to be used is fairly large, 

 and for these tests reduction in size may not always be necessary, 

 but in every case the amount of the sample is many times larger than 

 can be conveniently analyzed or tested for such factors as foreign 

 material, other grains, damaged kernels, or moisture content. In 

 order to obtain a portion small enough for these analyses and tests 

 it is essential that the size of the original sample be reduced. 



Mere haphazard reduction of size of sample, however, leads only 

 to confusion and disputes between the interested parties. Among 

 haphazard methods of cutting down the size of the sample might 

 be mentioned: Pouring out a portion of the sample; taking out a 

 portion with a scoop" or with the hand ; dividing the sample with a 

 ruler ; or any other solely manual method. When a small portion is 

 taken out of a larger sample by any of these methods it almost in- 

 variably results in removing either too great or too small a propor- 

 tion of foreign matter, broken grains, damaged kernels, and admix- 

 tures of other grains; and even though this may not in some cases 

 affect the result of certain tests, as for instance the moisture test, it 

 may, and usually does, seriously affect the correct proportion of the 

 admixtures in the remaining portion of the sample upon which the 

 other tests are based, and incorrect grading is a common result. 



The reduction of the size of the original sample for analysis and 

 testing is generally necessary and the retention of the relative pro- 

 portions of the admixture of various other grains, foreign substances, 

 broken kernels, and damaged kernels, of which the original was made 



