CONSERVATION OF FEEDING-STUFFS 131 



extent of the losses which grain undergoes when 

 stored depends chiefly upon the moisture it con- 

 tains and upon the temperature of the place in which 

 it is stored ; the moister the grain the greater the loss. 

 On being kept three weeks 50 grams each of oats 

 containing 2-52, 11-18, 16-98, 17-82% of water gave 

 out 0-2, 3-1, 24-7, 35-1 c.c. of carbon dioxide re- 

 spectively. When stored in elevators moist grain 

 is subject to a further disadvantage, for, in con- 

 sequence of the rise of temperature, part of the 

 water passes off as steam and condenses on the 

 cooler parts of the elevator, causing moulds to form. 

 It is therefore advisable not to store grain in such 

 holders if the quantity of water it contains exceeds 

 13-14%. Should the grain contain more than this 

 amount it ought to be dried at a low temperature 

 before being stored. 



The temperature also favours the processes of 

 respiration in grains, as is seen from the following 

 experiments with oats. When the temperatures 

 were 12, 24, 27, 37, 46 C. it was found that in 

 eighteen days the oats produced 7-5, 36-1, 54-7, 

 66-3, 92-4 c.c. of carbon dioxide respectively. 

 Another circumstance is also of importance, and that 

 is the purity of the grains which are to be stored ; 

 if they are mixed with dust, earth, broken grains, 

 all of which easily absorb moisture and so become 

 damp and liable to be attacked by moulds, the 

 sound grains are infected. On this account it is 



