Evening journal., 1921-02-16
new Things in
AGRICULTURE
Selling by Guess Seldom
Profitable for the
Farmer
is ARGUMENT
FOR SCALES

Guessed weights and measures
are seldom profitable for the farmer
This practice is unbusinesslike. It in
dicates a carelessness q the value Of
the thins he is selling, and the buyer
would be more than human If he did
not take advantage. A guessed
bushel" Of potatoes is more likely to
measure four and one-haf than three
and one-half
Where sales are based on weight
The grower is paid for what he de-
livers. When the bar balances at 100
pounds both parties know that full
value has been given and received.
The best argument for the installa-
ton Of a good set OF scales In a con
venient place on the farm is that,
while The produce dealer Is nearly al
ways willing 10 buy by guess he
IS seldom willing 10 sell that way.
The most conspicuous piece OF equip
ment in the vegetable stall, the meat
market, or the grocery is an accurate
pair OF scales. The produce that Is
bought by guess" is sold by ounces.
The dealer is a practiced buyer and
attalns some degree OF accuracy In
making his estimates. Thus ne has
the advantage OF skill not possessed
by the farmer who lacks experience
in making his estimate.
The dealer has another advantage
not held by the farmer. As he sells
by weight, he has a means OF check
ing the accuracy Of his guess. II ne
finds that the weight OF a steer, for
instance. was less than ne estimated
10 n. be when he purchased =, he
may recover his loss by charging the
customer more or by taking out the
loss on the next guessed purchase
ne makes The loss is likely 10 fall
not on the dealer, who incurred it
but upon innocent parties.
Sometimes whole communities fall
into the custm OF selling produce by
guess. The Bureau OF Markets, United
states Department Of Agriculture, re-
ceived the follow ng letter In reply to
a query addressed 10 a butcher:
"It Is practically impossible for me
20 even estimate live cost, weight oi
hides. quantity OF offal etc, as oui
cattle are nearly all bought by tho
dollar and seldom ever pass over th'
scales. our hides and talhw ar'
never weighed when taken on, ant
our other by-product values ar'
homes. and we have no way OF know
ing what they are worth
The fact that this butcher buy
nearly an his cattle "by the dollar
indicates that both ne and many O.
fhe farmers in the vicinity are leav
tnr ihe matter Of weight 10 chanc
Judgment. whereas it could easily b
determined by driving the cattle OF
scales and weighing them-the worl
!. OF a minute or two
The Bureau of Markets by publish
ing the prevailing market prices 70
meat and farm produce. offers fre
information 90 the farmer That W
niaco him on the level with the deale
so FAR as knowledge of prces Is con
ccrned. but unles the farmer has
set NJ scales available he can not us
this knowledge.
An accurate set of small platform
scales should De a part OF the farr
emipmont and every farm sal
should De referred i0 them. II mount
ed upon rollers they can be move
from place 90 place as their service
are romired. II without rollers the
can be moved in whceleharrov
They should be kept in a buildln
that Is as free from dust an
moisture as possible and should b
tested with standard weights at lea'
once a year. In some states the test
are made by law by an C1lcial wh
. makes the adjustments necessary
restore the scale 10 balance, or,
this cannot be done. condemns On
anaratus and seals 70 so that IL ca
not he used again until repaired.
such equipment viii answer mot
farm purposes. but a larger set
SCALES is occasionally required
weigh cattle. hogs, hay or cih'
material 10 heavy or bulky 20 10
upon the small platform. Very ofte
a merchant whose place OF bushes
g centrally located or a farmer WI
lives on a main road leading ini
town finds it a profitable inyestmel
tc put in a set OF pit scales for o
use OF farmers and Others who al
bringing bulky material 10 marke
When a farmer knows that he C;
drive n IS cattle or his loaded wag'
upon The platform or pit scales wit
ont going out Of his way. he WI
less Inclined 70 lump on a barnful
hay or BE- sell his stock by the hea
The owner Of the scales receives
small fee for his services and q
farmer a signed statement OF weig
which is the basis OF payment VIII
be delivers his load at the market
shipping yard.
DRISCOLL WINS BY KNOCKOU