CHAPTER XII. 

 THE STORAGE OF WHEAT 



The storage of wheat has four aspects which correspond to 

 the four stages of transportation, namely: Storage at the 

 farm; at the local market; at the primary market; and at the 

 seaboard. Under the subject of storage is included the vertical 

 and horizontal transportation involved in getting wheat to 

 and from wagons, cars, ships and warehouses. 



Storage of Wheat at the Farm. The granary upon the farm 

 should have an exposed location, and should be so constructed 

 as to make the handling of grain as easy as possible. The 

 principal things to be guarded against are dampness, insects 

 and vermin. Cold does not injure wheat, and it lessens the 

 activity of injurious insects. The loss from insects decreases 

 with increased bulk and decreased exposure of the surface of 

 grain. Bins should be constructed with smooth, oiled, or painted 

 walls to prevent lodgment of insects, and without air spaces 

 where vermin can hide. If the granary is fully exposed, a 

 single thickness of inch boards will keep out all rats and mice. 

 Where injurious insects are likely to be abundant, the windows 

 should be screened, the doors made close fitting, and all crevices 

 and other means of ingress closed. If the granary is properly 

 constructed, there is practically no loss of weight through 

 storage. On the largest wheat farms, such as exist in the Red 

 river valley, the grain is stored in elevators. Alongside of the 

 railroad track which runs through the great field, two elevators 

 of about 50,000 bushels capacity each are located on opposite 

 corners of the farm. On the Pacific coast, where there is no 

 danger of rain, the sacked wheat is left lying in the open field 

 until it is shipped. East of the Mississippi river, mixed farm- 

 ing is generally practiced, and as a rule there is sufficient 

 granary room on the farm to store the wheat held over, which 

 is quite a large portion. In the Northwest, where the main 

 feature of farming is growing grain for the market, it is es- 

 timated that 75 per cent of the grain is put upon the market 

 before the close of the year. 



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