The barrel measure is _somewhat uncertain_--_It is best to find out your state regulations._ The barrel differs according to state law and commodities sometimes. March 1915 a law was passed by (National) Congress. This applies to all dry commodities except such as have been sold by weight or numerical count (flour, sugar and cement). The standard barrel has a capacity of 105 dry quarts. The liquid barrel’s capacity is generally marked on its side. SACKS AND BAGS You are prone to “get the sack” here unless you are careful. There are usually 94 pounds of cement to the sack and 100 pounds of sugar. In the case of flour the weights are usually in multiples of a barrel ¹⁄₂, ¹⁄₄, ¹⁄₈ etc. expressed in pounds, but the custom is growing to drop the ¹⁄₂ pound, ¹⁄₄ pound, and ¹⁄₈ pound, from the weight of ¹⁄₈, ¹⁄₁₆, and ¹⁄₃₂ barrel size and make their weights 24, 12 and 6 pounds. (Barrel of flour has 196 pounds.) Potatoes generally weigh 2¹⁄₂ bushels to the sack--according to weight per bushel in your own State. HEAPED BUSHEL--BULKY VEGETABLES, FRUITS ETC. In different states the heaped measure is heaped differently, in some the measure is heapable to the point where the commodity falls “down and out,” in others the cone above the measure has certain lawful dimensions--So find out before you are fooled. In buying peas, dried beans etc. be sure they are measuring your purchase by _dry_ not by liquid measures--or you will lose 15% of your purchase! BASKETS Basket sizes are just about standardized to 2 quart, 4 quart and 12 quart baskets. BOXES FOR FRUITS A national law says that the standard basket or boxes or container for small fruits, berries and vegetables shall be of the following capacities:--Dry half pint, dry pint, dry quart, or multiples of the dry quart. CORDS OF WOOD Practice differs here in large measure--Purchasers must find out local laws. In most States a cord of wood is 128 cubic feet--in piles 3 × 8 × 4 foot lengths. The lengths, however, into which wood is cut in some places is 3, or 2, or 1¹⁄₂ feet! Measurements are sometimes made before and sometimes after splitting. The basket in some states measures fractions of cords, occasionally it is equal to a heaped bushel, in other states it is more specifically designated. Look up your laws, here all your safety lies! CONTAINERS Finally, check up the contents of your containers and notify the makers; you will help the public and the manufacturer. Statements of weight are in avoirdupois terms. Packages of 2 pounds or less are exempt from marking, and containers below 1 fluid ounce come under this exemption. Notify the maker if loss exists; it is a public service. Losses often occur from evaporation, leakage, bad packing, and consequent deterioration before opening. The manufacturer will be glad to get a notification if he is of integrity so that he can take steps to correct his measure. Here is real need for a good scales and measuring cups.