According to the assize acts, a sack of flour weighing 280 lbs. is
supposed capable of being baked into 80 quartern loaves; one-fifth of
the loaf being supposed to consist of water and salt, and four-fifths of
flour. But the number of loaves that may be baked from a sack of flour
_depends entirely_ on its goodness. Good flour requires more water
than bad flour, and old flour than new flour. Sometimes 82, 83, and even
86 loaves have been made from a sack of flour, and sometimes hardly 80.
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