Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-09-03

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture,)
A large percentage Of the wheat de-
livered at the terminal markets for in
terstate or foreign shipment Is placed
in the highest grades of the federal
grain standards by grain inspectors
licensed by the United States depart
ment of agriculture. Duluth and Min
neapolis are two Of the largest termi-
nal wheat markets in the country. Be
tween January 49, 1918, when the re
vtsed federal grades became effective,
and December 81, 1918, more than 49,
900 cars of hard red spring wheat were
inspected at Duluth, Of which nearly
S5 per cent was placed In grade No. l.
AT Minneapolis nearly $4,000 cars
were inspected, of which more than 20
per cent was placed in grade No. /.
When a farmer sells his wheat to
the local elevator, grade is placed
upon it usually by the elevator man
.ager and not by a licensed inspector
of the federal government because
few such inspectors are located at
country points. Unless the grain is
ground at the local mill, it Is finally
shipped to a terminal market where
1t is graded by disinterested In
:spector who is licensed by the secre-
tary Of agriculture. In deciding the
grade the inspector uses the grades
established by the United States de-
partment of agriculture, which are
often referred to as the federal grades.
Enforcing Grain Standards Act
In enforcing the grain standards act,
the authority of the federal govern
ment reaches only shipments of grain
In interstate commerce-frOm one state
to another-or to foreign countries.
The department can not control the
country buyer or elevator man, nor
the miller who buys grain on the spot,
for such transactions usually are not
interstate. While these buyers may
use federal grades, the grading is not
under the jurisdiction Of the depart
ment. If they do not assign the grades
fairly and accurately, only the state
officials can reach them. The licensed
inspectors, however, are under the con-
troll of the department. Such inspect
'ors are not allowed to continue to in
;spect unless they are competent. If
anyone is employed in an elevator or
mill or has any connection with the
buying or selling of grain he can not
secure license to inspect grain, and
if he does not do satisfactory work
his license may be suspended or re-
voked.
Practically all the grain from Min
Ifesota and North Dakota, and large
part Of that from South Dakota, is
eventually shipped to either Mime
apolis or Duluth and It Is there graded
by licensed inspectors. With the ex-
ception of durum, practically all Of
the wheat produced In the territory
mentioned is hard red spring. This
kind of wheat is divided into three
subclasses or divisions, according to
the percentage of dark, hard and Wire
Gus (tiinty) kernels. For bread-mak-
ing purposes it is generally believed
that -four from wheat containing a
large percentage of the dark, hard
and flinty kernels is superior because
of IT'S stronger more elastic, and more
abundant gluten. This Is the charac-
ter that has given the spring wheats
of the Northwest and the hard winter
wheats of certain sections of the
Southwest their eRviab!e reputation In
the worlds market, and Is responsible
for the almost universal premium
millers are willing to pay for these
wheats in normal times.
The subclasses for hard red spring
wheat are: Dark northern spring
containing rs per cent or more dark,
hard and fiinty kernels, and not more
than 10 per cent or less Of humpback
northern spring, which contains less
than ~ per cent ana more than p
per cent dark, hard and fiinty kernels
and A0t more than 10 per cent or less
huInpback; red spring, which contains
Is per cent or less dark, hard and
fiinty kernels, or more than 10 pei
cent humpDack.
How Wheat Was Graded.
OF the 4J,711 cars Of hard red spring
wheat received ard inspected at Du
Iuth drEing the last half Of 1913. IA,