SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 713 



SHRINKAGE OF CORN. 



Extracts from Quarterly Report of Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



The cost of carrying ear corn one year or longer is probably greater 

 than many people figure it. "For instance, the cost of 1000 bushels of 

 corn at 21 cents is $210; interest at 7 per cent for one year, $14.70; 

 expense of crib, $20; cost of the corn at the end of one year, $244.70. 

 But it is estimated that the shrinkage will amount to 20 per cent., or 

 200 bushels; therefore, there will remain but 800 bushels to sell. So 

 $244.70 actually represents the cost of 800 bushels at the end of one year, 

 or a fraction over 30 cents a bushel, without figuring anything for insur- 

 ance or risk in holding, showing that 21 cents at gathering time is equal 

 to about 30 cents a bushel one year later." 



. The following is from the Journal of Agriculture: 



In 1893 a farmers' club in Pennsylvania adopted a resolution asking 

 the members to make a test and find out by actual weight how much corn 

 would shrink or lose in weight from husking-time until the next June 1. 

 In accordance with that resolution, ten farmers reported the shrinkage 

 from November 1 to February 1 as 8 2-3 per cent., and the shrinkage 

 from February 1 to June 1 as 7 2-3 per cent, or, from husking-time to 

 June 1 next, 16 1-3 per cent. In the above test each farmer took a 

 double bushel of corn ears and kept them separate, weighing the same 

 corn on the first of each month from November 1 to June 1, inclusive. 

 Members of the same club in 1894 made another trial, and, instead of' 

 taking a double bushel of corn ears, each man was to weigh 70 pounds of 

 corn ears at husking-time, about November, and then weigh the same corn 

 again on February 1 and June 1. Fourteen farmers reported the shrink- 

 age from November 1 to February 1 as 7.6 per cent., and the shrinkage 

 from February 1 to June 1 as 8.9 per cent., or, from husking-time to 

 June 1 next, 16.5 per cent. To those farmers who sell their corn instead 

 of feeding to stock this information is valuable. However, shrinking 

 is not the only loss in holding corn over. The mice and rats waste a 

 great deal, and sometimes, through improper care, some of it gets wet 

 and spoils. Besides, if sold at gathering-time at a good price, the farmer 

 can have the use of the money at once. 



An Ohio farmer tested a crib of corn as follows: The first loud was 

 cribbed October 9 and the last October 22. The total quantity cribbed was 

 34,970 pounds. The first load was hauled out January 8 and the last 

 February 1. The total hauled out was 29,995 pounds, showing a shrink- 

 age in the process of seasoning of 4995 pounds, or 14 per cent. This 

 is new light on the shrinkage of good corn in prime condition. The 

 popular rule for estimating shrinkage has, heretofore, plaeed the loss by 

 this process at 7 to 8 per cent, for all grades. 



"Of the various crops, corn is perhaps the one in which shrinkage 

 during storing is the most apparent, owing to the moisture content ©f the 



