GRAIN CONSERVATION 137 



I hope we have demonstrated conchisively that 

 the air-tight storage of grain is a perfectly rational 

 method of treatment based upon a sound scientific 

 foundation. It remains for the engineers and others . 

 to say how far it is practicable upon a large scale, 

 but I may say that I have been assured on good 

 authority that no serious difficulty would arise in 

 the construction of air-tight stores or granaries. 



If this is the case, I think that this system of 

 storage ought to be very seriously considered by 

 the proper authorities — whoever they may be. 



If the grain were stored in this way in the country 

 of origin for a few months before shipment, it 

 would be completely sterilised as regards insect life, 

 and with reasonable precautions on board ship it 

 could not become infected during the voyage. 

 Air-tight storage on the voyage might be a more 

 difficult problem ; its chief value would be to pre- 

 vent the heating which takes place when the grain 

 gets damp. If the grain were landed in this country 

 in an insect-free condition there would be little risk 

 of subsequent insect infection unless it were pro- 

 posed to keep it for a long period, when air-tight 

 storage might again be resorted to. 



No doubt air-tight storage would involve a large 

 expenditure of capital, but considering the immense 

 amount of damage which might be prevented, this 

 expenditure would in all probability be abundantly 

 justified. Another advantage of air-tight storage 



