DIVISION OF BOTANY. 101 



tic, and putting it into form for information to the public and for 

 experimenters. It is important that an appropriation be secured 

 which will enable us to follow up this phase of our investigations 

 with actual field experience of such a character as to render the addi- 

 tional information which can be secured only in this way available for 

 public use. 



DETERIORATION OF GRAIN IN OCEAN TRANSIT. 



About three years ago protests began to be received from European 

 countries against the condition of some of the grain, jjarticularly 

 corn, that was being received from the United States. A preliminary 

 investigation of the subject by the Department of Agriculture has 

 brought out the fact that the problem must receive a thorough inves- 

 tigation in order to ascertain the causes of the deterioration of export 

 grain, particularly in ocean transit, and to devise means for prevent- 

 ing losses from those causes. The points requiring consideration are 

 proper stowage, ventilation of vessels, prompt unloading, the condi- 

 tion of the grain with respect to cleanness and moisture content, and 

 the drying of grain before shipment when necessary. The expendi- 

 ture of an amount of money sufficient to make an exhaustive inves- 

 tigation of these questions would be amply repaid by the commercial 

 advantages to be derived therefrom. 



