». p. I.— 674. 



THE SHRINKAGE OF CORN IN STORAGE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



As the question of the natural shrinkage of shelled corn while in 

 storage and in transit is of considerable importance to those engaged 

 in the handling of grain, a series of special investigations was begun 

 at Baltimore, Md., in order to determine the amount of shrinkage 

 or loss in weight occurring in shelled corn containmg various per- 

 centages of moisture while in storage in elevators or during transit 

 in cars. 



The experiment described in this circular, the first of the series 

 on shrinkage, was made with 500 bushels of shelled corn stored on a 

 30,000-pound scale and was carried on in cooperation with the 

 Baltimore & Oliio Railroad Co. and the Baltimore Chamber of 

 Commerce. 



EXPERIMENT WITH CORN STORED ON A SCALE IN A GRAIN 



ELEVATOR. 



On January 5, 1910, 500 bushels (28,000 pounds) of shelled com 

 having an average moisture content of 18.8 per cent were placed in 

 the wooden hopper of a 30,000-pound scale in Elevator B of the 

 Baltimore & Oliio Ilailroad Co. at Locust Point (Baltimore), Md. 

 The scale was tested prior to the beginning of the experiment, and 

 after being filled with grain the hopper of the scale was covered 

 with cloth to prevent an excessive quantity of dust from setthng 

 on the com, and at the same time to pernyt a fairly free circulation 

 of air over the top of the grain. 



The corn used in this test was taken from the regular car receipts 

 and was left in the hopper of the scale without handling from January 

 5 until May 14, a period of 129 days. It was then run out of the 

 hopper and elevated three times to the same scale, the weight of 

 the grain being taken after each elevation. After the tliird eleva- 

 tion the corn was held on the scale for an additional period of 18 

 days, or until June 1, at wliich time the experiment was terminated, 

 making a total storage period of 147 days. 



Figure 1 is a sectional view through the middle of the hopper 

 of the scale, showing the position of the four electrical-resistance 

 themiometers which were placed in the corn at the top of the first, 

 second, fourth, and fifth 100-bushel drafts, respectively, in order 

 that the temperature of the corn could be ascertained at any time 

 throughout the course of the experiment. 



[Cir. 81] 3 



