Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-21
THE GRADING OF GRAIN
New System. Introduced in
Department Of Agriculture.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
BELIEVED TO BE IMPORTANT TO
EXPORT TRADE.
Importance Of the Business Of Buying
and Selling Cereals Com
mented Upon.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD

mented Upon.
A new and what Is regarded as very I'M
portant Office under the division Of botany,
In the Department of Agriculture, is the
Office Of grain grade Investigations, which
was established as a separate Office the 1st
of last July. Mr.. Carl s. Scofield is the
botanist in charge.
Very general attention has recently been
called to this branch of the Agricultural
Department by the publication and crcula-
ton throughout the country of a bulletin,
entitled 1.-The Commercial Grading of
Corn" written by Mr.. Scofield. Many
commercial and agricultural periodicals in
the United States and Canada have taken
UP the question of the proper scientific
grading OF this cereal, introduced first by
this office. and the author of the little
pamphlet has been mentioned and his plans
discussed very extensively. Nearly every
day he receives letters Of inquiry on the
subject from grain growers, shippers and
buyers
Already the apparatus necessary for
grading the corn scientifically has been
tested at several grain centers, and prep
arations are being made by some inspectors
to install 1t in their offices, although the
plan has been before the public only since
the 18th Of last June. The effect of an adj
herence to scientific method Of grading
wheat. oats and barley. as well as corn.
would, 1t is thought, be to greatly increase
the export trade Of this country in these
products.
1t is Mr.. Scofield's hope that. If his pro-
cess Is found to fill want in the COM
mercial world, the agriculturists who raise
the grain and the inspectors, whether they
be under the direction OF trade organiza-
tons or of the United States government,
will learn 1t and improve upon 1t. until gen.
eral uniformity and its resulting benefits
shall obtain all over the country. This. 1t
Is understood is another Of the ideas OF
the Department of Agriculture for educat-
ing the nation. There Is no intention, 1t Is
said, to attempt control of commercial
grain grading.
Adopted by State Colleges.
1t has been exceedingly gratifying to Mr.:
Scofleld to learn that three state agricul-
tural colleges-those of Minnesota, Iowa
and North Dakota-have added instruction
in this scientific method Of grading to their
courses of studies. The outlook Is that the
idea is taking hold Of the interested per-
sons in the United States. Whether it will
Indirectly revolutionize the old methods Is
a matter of conjecture. If 1t proves to be
good, there is every probability. 1t is said.
that 1t will be adopted by inspectors and
even by farmers.
The introduction of method. 1t is said Is
timely, because a falling off in our export
corn trade, especially with Germany, has
been noticed in the last few years, through
a failure, 1t is stated, to adhere to a uni
form and easily understood grading system.
A large percentage of the corn used by Ger
many Is said to be imported from the Ar
gentine Republic. The winning back of
what was once ours and the securing of
the markets are believed to be possible re-
suits Of the promulgating Of the present
process.
The way in which a foreign country loses
confidence In our corn can readily be Seen.
1t is claimed. by the following Illustration:
The grain inspector at a certain United
States port designates certain cargo of
corn as being Of the second grade. He has
used his judgment. perhaps feeling 1t with
his hands to detect the amount Of moisture.
and has decided that 1t should be marked
thus. But in reality he has made an error
through no fault Of his. however, for he has
judged as best he could by the means
known to him. A little difference in mois-
ture here and there Is hardly detachable by
feeling with the hand.
Through his inadvertent mistake a cargo
of corn Is allowed to leave one of our ports
in a condition entirely too moist to make 1t
possible for 1t to arrive on the other side Of
the ocean in good condition. AS a matter
Of fact. the load Is moldy and far below
the grade marked when the buyer receives
1t, whereas If 1t had been in the condition
that No. implies all might have been well
with 1t.
Results Of Old System.
The price Of one grade is paid for some
thing inferior to it. and therefore the buyer
is incensed. This may occur again and
again. and soon the patience of the pur-
chaser is exhausted He sees that the corn
from the Argentine Republic arrives In bet
ter condition than ours. He does not stop
to inquire into the reasons-he simply sees
what Is before him. and pronounces corn
from the United States to be inferior to
that from Argentina. Had proper care
been exercised in shipping, or, rather, had
scientifically accurate method Of grading
been employed. 1t is claimed. no error would
have resulted, and the confidence of the
foreign buyer would not have been lost.
This Is only an imaginary Illustration of
what, 1t is said, may occur at times under
the present system. 1t is believed that 1t
rests with this country to show the for
eigner that we produce the best corn in or
der to regain his confidence and to prevent
such occurrences In the future
The grading of carload of corn at
grain center In the interior of the country
affects the price, but, 1t Is said not ultt-
mately, as the consumer finally buys by
sample, but wrong grading and an absence
OF uniformity greatly complexities matters.
according to the opinion Of accredited au-
thorities.
AVA. OSoheiu HAS idu the lued OF Sc1ent1nc
grading under consideration for some time,
and. with the aid Of his two assistants, Mr.
G. c. Worthen and Mr.. r. Victor Bailey,
he has finally developed his method to a
stage in which he is willing to give it to
the public-a method Of accurately grading
corn, according to a standard which he
hopes will be beneficial to the Commercial
interests in this country. Wheat, oats bar
ley and other grains. he stated to a Star re-
porter. will receive his attention In the
future.
Not New Work.
Long before the Office of grain investiga-
lions was established the work was being
carried on. Mr.. Scofeld was then known
as an expert. in charge of grain investiga-
lions. When the title Of botanist was given
to him and his branch Of the department