Mar. iS, 1918 



Respiration of Stored Wheat 



707 



ically in figure 7. Both table and graph show plainly that the rate of 

 respiration is reduced by the accumulated carbon dioxid, and it is prob- 

 able that a further reduction in respiratory activity would result if the 

 proportion of carbon dioxid were increased. This fact has an important 

 bearing on commercial practices. It indicates that stored grain should 

 not be disturbed so long as its temperature does not exceed that of the 

 atmosphere, since exposing it would serve to ventilate the grain and thus 



3 ^ S £^ 7- <9 ^ 



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Fig. 7. — Graph showing the rate of respiration during successive intervals when the respired carbon 

 dioxid was permitted to accumulate in the mass of grain. 



remove the carbon dioxid. On returning such grain to the bin after 

 aerating it the rate of respiration would be increased over that of the 

 grain which was not handled and exposed, since the rate of respira- 

 tion of the unaerated grain has been depressed, owing to the accumulated 

 carbon dioxid. The aerated grain will accordingly heat more rapidly 

 than before aerating, unless its temperature has been materially reduced 

 by exposing it to the air. 



