THE DETERIORATION OF CORN IN STORAGE, 7 



On March 31 tlu'ce holes were bored tlirough the wall of the bin on 

 the side nearest the interior of the house. One hole was bored 

 approximately 10 feet from the bottom, another 25 feet from the 

 bottom, and the third 40 feet from the bottom of the bin, or 20 feet 

 from the top of the grain. Samples taken through these holes with 

 a 4-foot grain trier showed that the corn had not changed materially 

 since it was first placed in the bin, no unnatural odors being percep- 

 tible. On the same date samples taken with a long grain trier from 

 7 feet below the surface showed the corn at that point to be slightly 

 musty. 



Samples taken on April 3 from 3, 7, and 12 feet below the surface 

 showed more pronounced odors in the corn at 3 and 7 feet, but no 

 odor could be detected in the samples taken at 12 feet. At this time 

 the maximum temperature of the corn 12 feet below the surface was 

 42° F. The highest temperature in the upper 500 bushels was 45^° 

 F. On A})ril 6 the corn near the top of the bin was very musty, 

 although the maximum temperature was only 48° F. On April 13, 

 samples were again taken from 12 feet below the surface but revealed 

 no odors indicating deterioration. 



On April 19 the maximum temperature in the 500 bushels of corn 

 at the top of the bin was 6H° F., as registered by thermometer E, 8 

 inches below the surface. The corn near the top at this time was 

 very musty and a considerable quantity of fresh mold was growing on 

 the kernels. The temperature of the corn 12 feet below the surface, 

 as registered by thermometer A, was 56° F., wliich was within one- 

 half degree of the highest temperature recorded at that depth during 

 the entire test. 



On April 26, samples were again taken through the holes in the 

 side of the bin at 10, 25, and 40 feet from the bottom, together with a 

 number of samples representing the 1,000 bushels at the top of the bin. 

 At this time the corn at the top of the bin was hot, musty, and sour, 

 but no odor could be detected on the samples taken through the hole 

 10 feet from the bottom of the bin. However, the samples taken 

 through the holes 25 and 40 feet from the bottom of the bin showed 

 that the corn near the bin walls at those points was slightly sour. 

 This condition was shown more clearly when the bin was emptied 

 the following day, the corn having a tendency to adhere to the sides. 

 In emptying the bin the corn from the sides became unevenly mixed 

 with the better corn from the interior, so that an odor was percep- 

 tible on a considerable portion of the entire bulk. 



The fermentation in the upper 500 bushels of corn was very active 

 at tliis time and the temperature was increasing rapidly. -On April 

 25 thermometer Xo. 7, in the center about 5 feet beneath the surface 

 of the corn, registered 87° F. At 8 o'clock the following morning 



[Cir. 43] 



