FARM BULLETIN No. 2. APRIL, 1916 



Grain Storage Buildings 



By K. J. r. Ekblaw 



The chief fault of cribs and granaries as they are built 

 in the majority of instances is that they are constructed 

 with too little regard for strength and durability. False 

 economy is practiced when such a building is erected with 

 just a few stones or an occasional pier for a foundation and 

 with light, unsound timbers for sills and framework. Proper 

 consideration is not given to the great strain to which a 

 crib or bin is subjected, due to the lateral pressure from 

 the weight and settling of the grain; this strain is particu- 

 larly severe at the floor and near the bottom of the walls. 



Buildings for the storage of grains are of two kinds, 

 those which are usually styled granaries and which are used 

 for the storage of small grains, and those which are known 

 as cribs and are used almost exclusively for the storage of 

 ear corn. As far as the general design is concerned, prin- 

 ciples which apply to one type will apply equally well to 

 the other. The main differences are: first, that granaries 

 must have tight walls and floors while cribs should have 

 walls with air spaces which permit ventilation; second, cribs 

 must be made narrower than granaries in order to make 

 provision for the removal of the rather considerable amount 

 of moisture which is given off by the drying corn. 



PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION. 



Pressure on Walls. Considerable attention has been 

 given to the investigation of the pressure due to small grains, 

 but, practically no data are available concerning ear corn. 

 It might be possible to consider ear corn similar to coal in 



Three 



