STANDARDIZED GRADES AND PACKS 167 



crate of celery with no means of ascertaining what quantity 

 is represented. The same is true of some other crops that 

 are sold by the bushel. The weight of this measure varies 

 in the different states and in Nebraska the standard weight 

 of a bushel of onions is 57 pounds while in Iowa the standard 

 weight is only 52 pounds or a difference of 5 pounds. Now 

 suppose a buyer in Chicago purchases onions from both states 

 by the bushel, he immediately meets with difficulty. Because 

 of this varying condition over the country, some means of 

 establishing a definite unit is necessary. The tendency, 

 however, is to select the pound as a unit and in many places 

 the buyers are insisting on quotations by the hundred which 

 is a definite unit and will be uniform in all states. This unit 

 is also more satisfactory to the purchaser, because where 

 products are purchased by the pound there is no chance for 

 the vendor to "stack the measure," as is often done when 

 buying by the measure. 



In addition to the standard pack or unit we should also 

 establish standard grades of certain products. This practice 

 is common with the apples and oranges, the fruit being 

 graded into sizes. A standard grade is also attempted in the 

 case of the potato, but it is not so easily accomplished. The 

 United States Department of Agriculture recommends two 

 standard grades for potatoes as follows: United States 

 Grade No. 1 consists of sound potatoes of similar varietal 

 characteristics which are perfectly free from dirt or other 

 foreign matter, frost injury, sunburn, second growth, cuts, 

 scab, blight, dry rot, and damage caused by disease, insects 

 or mechanical means. The minimum diameter of the potatoes 

 of the round varieties shall be one and seven-eighths inches 

 and of potatoes of the long varieties one and three-quarter 

 inches. In order to allow for variations incident to com- 

 mercial grading and handling, 5 per cent, by weight of any 

 lot may be under the prescribed size and in addition 3 per 

 cent, by weight may be below the remaining requirement of 

 this grade. United States Grade No. 2 consists of potatoes 

 of similar varietal characteristics, which are practically free 

 from frost injury or decay, and which are free from serious 

 damage caused by dirt or other foreign matter, sunburn, 



