36 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



During the period from November, 1906, to May, 1907, inclusive, 88 cargoes 

 aggregating 6,598,351 bu. arrived witli 17 per cent of tlie entire quantity in a 

 beating or hot condition. The cargoes were loaded on dates between October 

 17, 1906 and May 9, 1907. Some hot corn was found in each of 43 cargoes, and 

 5 were made up entirely of hot or lieating corn. The cool corn varied from 12 

 to 20.6 per cent in moisture content, averaging 17.1 per cent, and with 50.2 per 

 cent of it in excess of 18 per cent. The dirt and foreign material varied from 

 0.2 to 4.5 per cent, except for one sample which contained 62.5 per cent, but 

 represented corn located under a hatch. 



Of corn loaded between December 17, 1907, and May 1, 1908, 24 cargoes 

 arrived cool, 28 cargoes in part heating or hot, and 1 cargo heating or hot 

 throughout. The cool corn varied from 14 to 20 per cent in moisture content, 

 and the dirt and foreign material present from 0.3 to 12.3 per cent. Of the heat- 

 ing or hot corn, 67 per cent was located next to the engine, boiler rooms, or 

 over the propeller-shaft tunnels. 



For the three seasons studied, the highest percentage of heating or hot corn, 

 42.3 per cent, was found in shipments made during May and the next highest 

 during April, while the percentage during March was less than during January 

 or February. Corn loaded during October and November was apparently old 

 crop corn and in no instance was found out of condition or heating. 



According to the rules adopted by the Grain Dealers' National Association, in 

 October, 1008, 18.7 per cent of this corn shipped as No. 2, or equivalent grades, 

 would have been graded as No. 2 or better, 50.1 iier cent as No. 3 ; 18.6 per cent 

 as No. 4, and 12.7 per cent as "sample " on account of being heating or hot. 



The percentage found heating or hot varied directly as the length of time in 

 the ship and the moisture content. So-called dried corn which arrived cool 

 contained from 15.2 to 19.4 per cent of moisture. The partial drying of corn 

 containing high percentages of moisture was found to so disturb conditions as 

 to make such corn unsafe for ocean shipment. Steamer and No. 3 corn arrived 

 with a moisture content of 19.2 to 22.5 i>er cent and when stored in holds free 

 and away from artificial heat no heating or hot corn was found. The moisture 

 content of rejected and dried corn ranged from 13.2 to 17.4 per cent. 



Complaints were noted of wlieat received in a badly heating or damaged con- 

 dition, due to high moisture content, and of the delivery of wheat not of the 

 grade purchased because of the presence of dirt, soft wheat, damp, smutty or 

 heat-damaged wheat, or wild garlic. 



Changes in moistui-e content on board ship may arise from the transfer of 

 moisture by air currents or by chemical changes within the Icernel. Tlie con- 

 ditions necessary for shipping damp corn are a short voyage and low air 

 temperature at the time of loading and during the voyage and the absence of 

 lieat from the ship's boilers. Argentine corn arrived with a moisture content 

 of from 12.2 to 15.5 per cent. 



Accumulations of dirt, foreign matter, and finely broken particles of corn 

 beneath the hatches were frequently observed, together with heating and moldy 

 corn. The influence of length of voyage, arrangement of bulkheads and differ- 

 ent forms of grain contracts on deliveries of American grain are discussed, and 

 studies given of the demands of the London market and prices paid for corn 

 from various countries. During the period from 1902 to 1908, inclusive, the 

 average price for American corn was 1.42 cts. per bushel below that for all 

 corn received. Definite recommendations are given looking toward the improve- 

 ment of the standing of American corn in foreign markets and a table presented 

 showing the relative worth of grain on a dry matter basis, when prices range 

 from 40 cts. to $1 per unit and the moisture content from 12 to 25 per^cent.. 



