Charlevoix county herald., 1920-12-31

the Wheat.
factor I'm the grade and definite per-
centages are permitted i'm each numer-
ical grade.
Dockage Easily Removed
Ordinary dockage can be removed
from quantities of wheat with compar-
atively simple cleaning machinery,
such as is installed i'm many grain ele-
vators and mills, or ii can be removed
on the farm with an ordinary portable
tanning mill equipped with a screen
having perforations like those speci-
fled for the dOckage sleeves.
Dockage found i'm wheat i'm many
cases is of real value, while i'm other
cases ii not only may have no value,
but may contain ingredients positively
harmful If ground with the wheat.
Dockage frequently contains Nquanti-
ties of other grains and weed seeds,
such as mustard, flaxseed, oats or
other cereal grain. Much of this can
be used to good advantage as poultry
or stock feed.
1t should be understood that it is op-
tional with a farmer whether he re.
move dockage or not. The point which
United States department of agricul-
ture officials emphasize is that II is to
his advantage to understand dockagt
and, in many cases, to remove 1t him
self. If the dockage system is no
employed, the foreign material In the
wheat may cause a lowering of tn,
grade. If no grading system Is EN-
ployed (grading usually is not com
pulsOry for the farmer in selling whea
at country points, though all shipment!
to terminal markets are graded), anC
the country miller or grain dealer buy;
wheat as delivered at fiat rate, or OF
the basis of the average quality deliv
cred, the price paid usually Is stuff
GENTLY low to protect the buyer
against loss caused by Objectionable
foreign material delivered with tho
general run of the grain.
Under the dockage system Of the
federal standards, however, the
amount of such foreign material sep
arated and considered as dockage is
deducted from the weight of the wheat
purchased and, In any event, does not
affect the grade of the wheat after II
has been cleaned. This results in a
higher grade, and the price paid is on
the basis of this grade.
After the dockage is removed from
the original sample and the test weight
per bushel has been determined, the
sample is then examined to ascertain
whether an analysis is to be made for
any other factors which determine the
grade.
Methods Of Handling Dockage.
Various satisfactory methods Of
handling dockage may be employed In
normal times. Where wheat is cleaned
on the farm or at the country elevator
and only the screened wheat is deliv-
cred to the local buyer, there is less
possibility of difference of opinion re
garding the grade of wheat delivered
Such an arrangement tends to estab-
lish greater confidence In the grades
given by the local buyer. When nox-
ious weed seeds are present il is adj
visable TO have the removed dockage
ground before feeding to prevent the
further spread of these weeds on the
farm. In many cases such material
has q relatively high feed, value and
often farmers will find 1t to their adj
vantage to remove the dockage them
selves or have their local buyers do IL
for them. The bulletin describes
other methods of handling dockage
and making allowance therefor.
Further information as to the cor
rect method of determining dockage in
wheat may be obtained by writing the
United States department of agricul-
ture, Washington, or by writing to or
visiting the nearest Office of federal
grain supervision. Such Offices are To-
Gated in the large grain markets. A
farmer or country grain dealer may
also mail sample to the nearest
grain Inspector and receive for q small
fee an Official certificate showing the
grade and dockage on that particular
sample. This sample should be two
quarts In size, of which at least IN
pints Is inclosed I'm a clean, alright
container. The remainder, II any, with
the container, should be placed In a
clean cloth sack. The address of the
nearest licensed grain inspector can be
secured ny writing the department or
any supervision Office.