ime a cracker with interchangeable anvils is not available.
Using different sized iron pipe couplings in a vise may help solve the
problem. Some varieties will crack better with a hammer than with a
cracker of the Hershey type with standard anvils. In cracking a sample
for test the operator should try to recover the most possible out of
the first crack without using a pick or recracking.

4. The empty nut problem is probably the most difficult and is not
satisfactorily solved by cracking nuts in excess of 25 until 26 filled
nuts are secured. This necessitates weighing the sample after the nuts
are cracked which is usually impracticable because of loss of parts of
shells in cracking and because additional nuts are not available. Empty
or shrivelled nuts in a sample are a serious defect which should count
heavily against it. On the basis of experience it seems that a better
method is to crack the random sample of 25 nuts and let the empty nuts
and shrivelled kernels affect the score as reduced weight per nut,
reduced per cent kernel and the penalty as well. Shrivelling that is
obvious and which adversely affects the appearance of the kernels should
be penalized. Possibly further experience will suggest a better way of
handling this problem.

The proposed score of a sample is made up as follows:

1. The weight of a single nut in grams.

2. The per cent kernel of total weight of sample recovered after first
crack x 2.

3. The total per cent kernel of total weight of sample divided by 2.

4. One tenth point for each whole quarter recovered.

5. Penalty of one score point for each empty nut in the sample.

6. Penalty of 1/2 point for every nut with shrivelled kernel.

The makeup of this score does not differ from that previously used
except in the matter of procedure with empty nuts. It is felt that the
items included are weighed in a realistic manner and that difficulties
in scoring have been due to methods of handling the samples rather than
in the scoring schedule itself. It does not seem likely that this
schedule or any schedule will be valuable unless used by experienced
operators who are willing to take the precautions indicated. Also it is
apparent that wherever possible more than one sample of a lot to be
scored should be tested and the average score used.

REFERENCES CITED

1. MacDaniels, L. H. Report of committee on varieties and judging
standards. No. Nut Growers Assn. Proc. 28: 20-23. 1937.

2. Mac