2 BULLETIN 897, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
METHODS OF WEIGHING. | 
From information obtained from 126 factories located in 21 
different States, it was found that the methods of weighing fall 
fairly well into the following five general classes: 
A. Hand weighed: 
1. Contents of each package weighed net before being packaged. 
2. Each package tare weighed, filled, and adjusted to the proper gross weight. 
B. Machine weighed: 
1. Contents of each package weighed net before being packaged. 
2. Average tare assumed, package filled, and adjusted to the proper gross 
weight. 
3. Weight of contents estimated by the size of each container. 
Of the weighing methods found for packages exceeding 5 pounds, 95 
per cent were hand weighed (A), and of these 88 per cent were gross 
and tare weighed (A2). Its exceptional prevalence and correctness 
of principle recommend this method (A2) as representative of good 
commercial practice for packages of these sizes. 
For packages of 5 pounds and under about half were hand weighed 
(A) and about half machine weighed (B). Of the hand weighed 
about half were weighed net (Al), and about half gross and tare 
(A2), but of the machine weighed, about 95 per cent were weighed 
net (B1). The importance of hand weighing is emphasized by its 
applicability to all types of products, its equal prevalence, and its 
priority in the field. The importance of hand weighing net (A1) is 
emphasized by its equal prevalence, its correctness of principle, and 
by the fact that no new machinery is required for its adoption. Its 
importance recommends hand weighing net (A1) as a representative 
method of good commercial practice on sizes of 5 pounds and below. 
GOOD COMMERCIAL PRACTICE OF HAND WEIGHING. 
Supplemental investigations showed that unwarranted variations 
occur in hand-weighed packages because of indifference to the type, 
capacity, repair, and manipulation of scales. Observations were 
made on all the scales in use at each of the 126 factories inspected. 
For packages of 5 pounds and below, even arm balances with no 
beam were found in 41 per cent of the instances. Even arm balances 
carrying a 1-pound beam and graduated to one-fourth ounce were 
found in 37 per cent of the instances. The relative prevalence and 
adaptability to the packer’s needs of the beam scale favor its selec- 
tion as a type to represent good commercial practice for these sizes. 
For packages of 25 pounds and over, a platform scale with a 
50-pound beam graduated to one-fourth pound was found m about 
50 per cent of the instances. The relative prevalence and commer- 
cial adaptability of this scale favor its selection as a type to represent 
good commercial practice for these sizes. 

