8 BULLETIN 867, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



but those from South America and the West Indies as a rule contain 

 more dirt and trash than the beans from India. Shipments may also 

 contain immature beans, decorticated beans, black beans, and broken 

 beans. The decortication is done in the thrashing. Black beans 

 (usually yellow, brown, or black) are those whose kernels hare 

 become discolored as the result of the beans having been wet. In 

 imported lots, broken and decorticated beans as a rule are not exces- 

 sive, but if the percentage of such black beans does run high, a 

 claim is made, about 5 per cent being the maximum allowable figure. 

 Broken and decorticated beans are not classed as dirt or impurities, 

 but if the percentage seems excessive the claim for reduction is made 

 independent of the percentage of trash. Black, broken, and decor- 

 ticated beans have the effect of increasing the acidity of the oil 

 produced therefrom. 



Shipments of castor beans are sampled by commercial samplers. 

 This is done by means of a tryer, samples being taken from 5 per 

 cent of the bags in a lot, but no sample should be less than 50 pounds. 

 The sample is divided into as many smaller ones as are necessary, 

 one for analysis, one for record or file, and one for the purchaser or 

 seller if he so desires. After the sample is obtained it is entirely in 

 the hands of the Linseed Oil Association, which association makes 

 the necessary records and arranges for an analysis by its official 

 analyst. This analysis is accepted by both buyer and seller. Any 

 dispute arising regarding the percentage of impurities or the quality 

 of the beans is usuall} r settled by the interested parties themselves, 

 although the custom of the trade of having a committee or referee 

 appointed is sometimes resorted to. As a rule, no beans are refused 

 outright; usually any lot of beans will be taken at some price. If 

 resort is taken to a committee or referee, the disputes as to quality 

 are not settled in this country but are settled by the Oil Seeds Asso- 

 ciation of London, England, which considers the fair average quality 

 of the season's crop. Such instances, however, are not frequent. 



The weight per standard bushel is another factor indicative of the 

 quality of castor beans. This weight varies with beans from different 

 localities. Considering beans from the same locality, the heavier the 

 weight per bushel the better the quality of the beans. 



Inasmuch as castor beans are bought for oil making, it would seem 

 that the logical way to judge them would be on the quantity and 

 quality of the oil actually contained in the beans, in addition to the 

 test for impurities, all of which the buyer should know before pur- 

 chasing. He would then not be obliged to judge the oil in the beans 

 on only an approximation. Such a method of purchase and inspection 

 might require a longer time to complete tests, but they should bo 

 completed within 24 hours from the receipt of the sample, which 

 does not seem impracticable. Oil-bearing seeds and material are 



