MARKETING GRAIN AT COUNTRY POINTS. Tl 
PURCHASES AT A FUAT RATE. 
If purchased at a flat rate, the buyer takes all of the grain at a 
fixed price. To do this some knowledge must be had of the quality 
of a farmer’s grain or a sufficiently large margin of profit must be 
demanded as protection against loss in event of poor quality. Under 
this system of equal price it is evident that the producer of high- 
quality grain usually receives less than it is worth. 
PURCHASES BY GRADE. 
When purchased by grade the price is established for grain of a 
certain quality. In case he grain delivered is of a lower gr ade, either 
because the grain it- 
self is inferior or on 
account of the pres- 
ence of dirt, a defi- 
nite amount is deduct- 
ed from the price. In 
the past the grades of 
the small grains have 
been determined prin- 
cipally by the test 
weight per measured 
bushel, but in some 
instances other fac- 
tors, such as excessive 
moisture, must, smut, 
damaged and sprout- 
ed grains, were also 
considered. Each of 
these factors has a 
definite weight in the 
grades which are be- 
ing fixed by the Sec- 
_ retary of Agriculture 
under the United States grain standards act and will probably be 
considered more carefully in the future. 
Fig. 1.—Hand tester commonly used at country elevators. 
= 
MAKING TEST WEIGHT. 
Farmers generally understand the-use of the test weight per bushel, 
but have no means of knowing all of the other considerations, so for 
fear of offending the customer the buyer frequently pays more for 
damaged grain than it is worth, adjusting the loss by a corresponding 
reduction in the price paid for better_grades. The method of mak- 
