The Washington times., 1920-07-14
SaUingMOneym the Home;
Little Tricks For Women
in Household Economics
BY Elizabeth Lattimer.

1T Is generally agreed that II food
costs are TO be lowered more
a economical system OF distribu-
tion OF. farm products must be per-
feeted and placed In practical use.
Standardization Ii the essential
basis for such a system. This means
not only standard grades for fruits
and vegetables, but standards Tor
the containers in which they are
packed.
SHOULD SELL BY WEIGHT.
The Bureau OF Markets is charged
with the enforcement OF the United
States standard container act which
provides only for standard capaci-
ties for grape and berry baskets
used I'm Interstate commerce The
application OF this law has resulted
in the widespread use of these con-
tainers In intrastate'c commerce also.
for shippers have come TO appreciate
the dement's derived from the use
of uniform methods OF marketing
Standardization OF larger shipping
containers. such as hampers and
round-stave baskets Is equally de-
sirable, say the bureaus experts.
vi COURSE the DcSl 10 70 Sell
produce by the pound. but where IL
is impracticable to sell by weight,
uniform containers should be used
Bushel baskets OF peaches from
Georgia and Colorado should con-
tain the same quantity of peaches.
The same is true OF any other food
commodity shipped in hampers or
baskets.
An illustration OF how the present
methods result in dissatisfaction Is
the case OF a Florida producer who
recently shipped potatoes to the
New York Market in a container
with which the trade was not ia
miliar Although the potatoes were
of high quality, difficulty was ex-
perienced in disposing of them.
When they were finally sold the
price was considerably lower per
pound than that commanded by po-
tatoes packed in the customary man
ner.
At present there are about nifty
types of hampers and over twenty
sizes of round-stave baskets In use.
Many of these sizes are simply the
outgrowth OF custom in various
shipping localities; others are used
for the express purpose OF deception.
And aside from the confusion and
uncertainty that result from the use
of dozens OF different kinds of con-
tainers, millions of dollars are an
nually lost through destruction Of
produce in transit on account Of
the weak construction of the con-
tainers used.
WOULD REDUCE NUMBER.
Jo nrauarc chinnava pd
basket manufacturers appreciate
the desirability of reducing the num-
ber of these containers, and a ma
tion-wide movement. is on foot to
eliminate many of them. Cooper
ative selling organizations are al
ready doing much to promote uni
formity and Standardization. 1t
means money to them not only. be-
cause Of the familiarity of the trade
with the containers used, but in per-
mitting methods of loading into
cars that reduce the likelihood Of
breakage to a minimum.
After a careful canvass of the sit
uation, the Bureau of Markets be-
lieves, and, in this those who have
have studied the problem are of the
same opinion. that five standard
hampers and four standard round
stave baskets are sufficient to meet
all shipping requirements. The
Specifications provide for volume,
dimensions or shape and strength.
In addition to the advantages of
uniformity, the adoption of these
sizes will enable the railroads to
work out loading rules that will
permit Of a more intensive utiliza-
tion of car space, and which will be
bound to reduce to a minimum
claims on account of damage in
transit.
PROPOSED DIMENSIONS FOR STAND
ARD HAMPERS.
l peck Gnside ns)-Diameter
of top, 1888; diameter of bottom 6h
slant height, 9S length of stave. 10h
thickness of stave, lilo.
u bushel-Diameter of top. IS; diane
ter of bottom. Sh; slant height IL:
length of stave, 121s thickness of stave,
10.
bushel - Diameter of top, 15k
diameter of bottom. Q; slant height, 10;
length OF stave, 90; thickness of stave, II
IN bushels, No. 1-Diameter of top.
16k; diameter of bottom, 9; slant
height, s6; length Of stave, 81; thickness
of stave, Y,
III bushels, No. 2-Diameter Of top.
1e%; diameter of bottom, 10; slant
height; %: length of staVe. "a; thick
PROPOSED DIMENSIONS FOR STAND
ARD ROUND STAVE BASKETS.
u bushel-Inside diameter at tops,