B. I'. I.— 634. 



TUB SULPHUR BLEACHING OF COMMERCIAL 



OATS AND BARLEY. 



INTRODUCTION. 



When a crop of oats or of barley is harvested under adverse weather 

 conditions, or in a careless manner, there is generally a deterioration 

 in both the quality and condition of the grain which reduces its market 

 vahie. In order to make grain thus damaged appear sound, healthy, 

 and bright, and also to remove the objectionable odors which are 

 usually present, such grain is often artificially bleached with sulphur- 

 ous acid, thereby making it possible to realize a higher price from its 

 sale. 



The bleaching of grain, and especially the bleaching of oats, with 

 sulphurous acid has been practiced in many of the larger grain 

 markets for a considerable number of years, but with the compara- 

 tively recent developments in apparatus for bleaching grain rapidly 

 and inexpensively the practice has become common also in the smaller 

 grain centers. The process of bleaching is ordinarily referred to in 

 the grain markets as "purifying," and grain so treated is sometimes 

 sold as "purified" grain, no mention being made of its having been 

 bleached or of sulphur having been used in the process of bleaching. 



Based on investigations carried on at 13 grain markets in 3 of the 

 leading oat-producing States, it is estimated that 18,732,000 bushels 

 of oats and barley were })leached in those markets during the six 

 months from October, 1908, to March, 1909, inclusive. The best data 

 available show that during the same period approximately 75 per cent 

 of the low-grade oats, ordinarily No. 4 White or below, received at 

 those markets were sulphur bleached. 



Sulphur-bleached oats are marketed chieti}^ in New England and in 

 such of the Eastern and Southern States as do not produce enough oats 

 for home consumption. On account of the bright and attractive 

 appearance of the bleached grain, it is often selected in preference to 

 the unbleached. 



Laws have been enacted in several of the States under the authority 

 of which the food commissions of those States have held it to be un- 

 lawful to offer sulphur-bleached or chemically treated grain for sale 

 within those States except when it is so labeled. 



ICir. 74] 



