10 MISC. PUBLICATION 7 5, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



graduate, which should then contain exactly 10 cubic inches. If 

 the quantity of seed in the graduate is not correct it is adjusted by 

 adding to or taking from it until it is correct; then the total quan- 

 tity of seed is again placed in the hopper and run into the stand- 

 ard quart measure and graduate. This operation is repeated until 

 exactly 1 quart and 10 cubic inches of seed are obtained. This seed 

 is then put in the hopper, and the berry box to be tested is placec/ * 

 underneath. The seed is allowed to flow into it, falling the same ^ 

 distance into the box that it fell into the measure. The box is 

 then struck off carefully. 



In striking off a container care should be taken that the striking 

 stick rests lightly on the edge of the container with its face inclined 

 at an angle of 45° to the container, and that the container is not 

 jarred during the process. Any jarring or rough treatment will 

 result in settling the seed in the container and will make the test 

 incorrect. After striking off, the container is tapped lightly to settle 

 the seed so that none will spill when the container is lifted from 

 beneath the hopper. If a strickle is not available, the ordinary desk 

 ruler will serve the purpose well, provided the back or rounded edge 

 of the ruler is used. 



The overflow is poured into the hopper and allowed to run into 

 the graduate. If the reading on the graduate shows 12 cubic inches 

 the berry box is 2 cubic inches short, or has a capacity of 1 quart 

 minus 2 cubic inches. If the reading shows 9 cubic inches, the box 

 is 1 cubic inch too large, or has a capacity of 1 quart plus 1 cubic 

 inch. 



QUANTITY OF EXCESS SEED USED 



The same process is used for baskets of all sizes, except that the 

 surplus used in order to make striking off possible will be smaller 

 or larger, depending on the capacity of the baskets to be tested and 

 on their shape. For ^-pint containers, 20 cubic inches of seed 

 measured into the graduate should be sufficient. The following sur- 

 pluses are used in the Department of Agriculture for the given types 

 and sizes of baskets : 



Surplus seed 

 Capacity of container to be tested : provided 



1 pint cubic inches 5 



1 quart do 10 



2-quart till do 15 



2-quart Climax do 20 



3-quart till do 20 



4-quart till do 20 



4-quart Climax do 20 



8-quarts, all types pint 1 



12 quarts, all types do 1 



16 quarts, all types , do 1 



24 quarts, all types quarts 1 



1 bushel, all types do 



1^4 bushels, all types do 



iy 2 bushels, all types do 



2 bushels, all types do 



These quantities will be found sufficient in most cases. Some bas- 

 kets run so large that they make it necessary to increase the quantity 

 of the surplus. In the case of oblong baskets it is necessary to work 

 the seed down into the ends of the baskets carefully before the final 



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