134 THE WAREHOUSINa OF GRAIN. 



may be stored for a couple of years without requiring turn- 

 ing over, but it is necessary to carefully examine it from 

 time to time. In this country grain comes from such long 

 distances by sea that it often arrives in a somewhat bad 

 state. That fact, coupled with the varieties of grain im- 

 ported here, render the conditions different from those in 

 America and on the Continent. 



It is generally believed in this country that grain, if not 

 injured, is at least not benefited by being stored to great 

 depths, and for some classes of grain, such as soft wheat, 

 the system of storage in silos is considered by some author- 

 ities to be unsuitable. Where grain arrives in bad condi- 

 tion, it is often refused, but, if put into a silo, it sometimes 

 cakes, and will not run out. The usual method of bringing 

 such grain into condition is to shift it from silo to silo by 

 means of the bands and elevators. Difficulty used to be 

 experienced in turning out a good sample, the heavier grain 

 going to the middle, and being drawn off first ; but, by the 

 use of mixers, that difficulty has now been overcome. As 

 regards the advantage in the case of silos, owing to their 

 being capable of being completely filled, the gain is not 

 usually so great as at first sight it would appear. Owing to 

 small " parcels," and grain being drawn off from time to 

 time, many of the silos are only partially filled. Much may 

 be said on both sides. It, however, appears to the author 

 that in some cases it would be advantageous to adopt the 

 " silo " principle, while in other cases it would be preferable 

 to store on floors. 



Having described generally various methods of ware- 

 housing grain, it will be well now to enter more fully into 

 a particular case, and for that purpose the author has 

 taken the new granary lately erected at Prince's Wharf. 



Owing to the limited extent of the site and the nature of 



