32 BULLETIN 558, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
as the farmer, but it is alleged that some elevator operators employ 
the short-weight method of overcoming shrinkage losses. This is — 
probably true, especially in the case of elevators owned by corpora- | 
tions or associations, where the directors do not understand that — 
grain can not be handled through the elevator without some shrink- 
age, and the manager fears action on his bond in the event of dis- 
crepancies between in and out weights. Where all scales are accu- 
rate, shrinkage in handling grain may be determined by comparing 
the “in” weights with the “ out” weights. 
AID IN FILING CLAIMS. 
It is imperative that the out weights be accurate, in order that 
positive knowledge of the exact weight of each car of grain may be 
had. It then becomes comparatively easy to establish a check upon 
the weights received at the central market and, in case of discrep- 
ancy, to afford a substantial basis upon which to file claims for 
losses incurred. The matter of loss in transit, together with the 
variation in weights at the country elevator and the central mar- 
ket, is a subject demanding careful study. At almost all terminal 
markets particular attention 1s paid to the accuracy of the scales, 
and when variation between shipping and receiving weights occurs 
the central market is prone to believe the out-weighing scales at the 
country point are unreliable. On account of the general reliability 
of terminal-market scales many buyers prefer to make purchases 
from the terminal market at a slightly additional cost. Some coun- | 
try dealers not only have their scales inspected frequently, but also 
supply the purchaser with an affidavit of their reliability. It seems 
likely that some uniform system of scale inspection and affidavit 
weight records will be installed eventually. 
TESTING FARM SCALES. 
The farmer should not neglect the testing of the farm scales, if 
he employs them to confirm elevator weights. Many misunderstand- 
ings and erroneous conclusions regarding business ethics of parties to 
a transaction are based on weights secured from farm or elevator 
scales the accuracy of which has not been verified for a considerable 
period of time. eee 
Farmers may test the accuracy of their scales by securing ten or 
twenty 50-pound test weights. These are weighed first at the cen- 
ter of the scale platform. Additional tests should then be made to 
check the accuracy of the scale by recording the weight registered 
when the test weights are placed at each corner of the platform. 
To determine the accuracy of the scale still further the weight of a 
loaded wagon may be recorded, after which the test weights should 
