82 WHEAT 



stored for future sale. If the price is relatively 

 high at threshing time it is usually advisable to sell 

 at once. Often the price is high when threshing 

 first begins but decreases as the supply of grain 

 increases. The present tendency of rushing the 

 grain to market at threshing time often results 

 in glutting the market and lowering the price 

 below normal ; and also the railroads and elevators 

 are unable to handle the large quantities of grain 

 properly. It would be better if more grain were 

 stored in good bins on the farms and hauled to the 

 market at an opportune time. This plan would 

 tend to keep the market more steady and allow 

 for the grain to be handled in better condition 

 and more economically. 



SHRINKAGE AND STORAGE 



The shrinkage of dry wheat, as threshed and 

 placed in the bin, is very small and will seldom 

 amount to 2%. One percent is an average shrink- 

 age for six months, and after the first loss of excess 

 moisture, the grain should not decrease in weight 

 even by longer storing, except as it may be in- 

 jured by insect or animal pests. In the warmer 

 climates, grain stored for several months is likely 

 to be attacked by weevil and often severely 

 damaged. Hence as a rule it is not advisable to 

 hold wheat over during the summer in Kansas 

 and states farther south, unless due precaution 

 is taken to prevent weevil damage. 



The farmer should take into consideration the 

 cost of storage in making his decision whether to 

 sell or not at threshing time. This cost, including 



