B. V. I. — -240. 



A QUICK METHOD FOR THE DETERMINA- 

 TION OF MOISTURE IN GRAIN." 



QUALITY OF EXPOKT CORN. 



During the past few years the commercial orading of corn has been 

 a matter of much controversy, both in the United States and in 

 Europe. Complaints of the poor condition of corn on arrival at 

 European ports have been constantly increasing, corn inspected at 

 American ports as Xo. 2, or "prime sail," having proved in nuiny 

 cases unfit for feeding purposes when discharged at foreign ports. 

 This uncertainty as to quality has already led P^uropean buyers to 

 purchase largely from other corn-growing countries, and unless th(; 

 quality of corn exported from the United States is improved our 

 foreign trade must inevitably suti'er. Last year the total quantity 

 of corn imported into France (general trade) was, in round numbers, 

 twelve and three-fourths million bushels, of which the United States 

 furnished only 20.0 per cent, or approximately two and two-thirds 

 million bushels, while Argentina alone supplied C)4:.4: per cent, or 

 approximately eight and one-fourth million bushels. 



CAUSES OF DETERIORATION. 



The principal cause of the deterioration of corn during transit or 

 in storage is an excessive amount of moisture. Corn as it is harvested 

 in the autumn ordinarily contains from 20 per cent to 35 per cent of 

 water, depending on the season and the relative time of harvesting. 

 Much of the corn as it comes from the fields goes directly into the 

 small elevators thruout the corn-growing States, to be transferred 

 later to the large elevators or storage bins at the grain centers. 

 Owing to the cold weather usually prevalent at this season of the year, 

 corn may be stored or exported without much danger of deterioration, 

 even tho the water content is relatively high, but with a slight rise in 

 temperature it will begin to sweat, after which fermentation soon sets 

 in, resulting in moldy and damaged grain. 



" Application has been made for a patent on the apparatus described in this 

 Inilletin. in order that it may be used or manufactured by any person in tlie 

 United States without the jiayment of royalty. 



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