304s Cultivation of Arable Land. Preferring of Grain in Stacks, fyc. 



their ravages is that of preventing their generation by the deftruction of the ova 

 before they aflame the vermicular ftate. This is bed effected by frequent fcreen- 

 ing and expofure to a current of frefh air j as by thefe means the nefts which contain 

 and protect them are broken and deftroyed, and the animals after pafling through 

 the fcreen in the different operations are wholly removed with the other extraneous 

 matters. 



The expofure of grain to the free action of the atmofpheric air has been condemned 

 by fome from the circumftance of the ova of infects being liable in that way to be 

 depofited among the corn ; but it is more probable, when the economy of fuch 

 infects is confidered, that theirovaare either depofited originally among the grain 

 in fuch fituations, or brought in with different parcels of corn from other places. 

 On this lad account great caution fhould be ufed in bringing frefh parcels of grain 

 to be laid up, and the ufe of the fcreen be conftantly had recourfe to before it is 

 attempted. 



Where corn is to bepreferved for aconfiderable length of time, though it may 

 unqueftionably be kept with fafety by proper care and attention in granaries or corn- 

 chambers, it is probably a much better, as well as more certain and economical 

 practice to fuffer it to remain unthremed from the ear, in the flack, efpecially when 

 built on proper ftaddles in the manner that has been defcribed above. 



In cafes where the corn is ground, and afterwards preferved in the flate of meal, 

 it is the ben; practice to pack it as clofely as poflible, by treading it into perfectly dry 

 fmall clofe rooms, as when laid up in proper condition in this way it will keep per 

 fectly fafefor feveral years. 



When it is neceffary to preferve grain for any length of time after it has. been 

 threfhed out, it is obvious that proper granaries fhould be provided ; the fize of 

 \vhich mould conftantly have a relation to the extent of the farm, being always 

 fufficient to contain one half of the corn that is produced when it is threfhed out. 

 In their erection the proprietor mould probably, in all cafes, except where there are 

 very long leafes, be at the whole of the expenfe. 



But though the practice of preferving grain in ftacks or granaries, from the 

 convenience and advantages that may in fome cafes arife from it, both to the farmer 

 and the public, may be in fome degree neceffary, it is evident from the refult 

 of experiments carefully made,* that the ftoring of corn in either way fliould be 

 carried to as little extent as poflible, as there is found to be a conftant decreafe in 

 its weight, from the period at which it has been harvefted or laid up, but that at firft 



* Holt, in Hunter s Georgical Efiays, vol. II, 



