FIELD CROPS 



389 



tion of moisture is one of the sources of profit in the bleaching 

 process. 



Results of Bleaching, Oats subjected to sulphur bleaching are 

 the lower grades of white oats, the commercial grades of No. 3, No. 4, 

 and "Sample" or "No grade" white oats usually being used. The 

 reason that such oats receive low grades may be due to several causes, 

 such as stain, field or mold damage, bad odors, or a low-test weight 

 per measured bushel. When the damage is stain or mold the outward 

 appearance of the grain is greatly changed by sulphur bleaching, and 

 it is often difficult to distinguish between the sulphur-bleached grain 

 and that which is naturally bright and sound, without subjecting it 

 to a chemical test. 



For the purpose of determining to what extent the outward ap- 

 pearance of oats is changed through sulphur bleaching, samples rep- 

 resenting 9 lots of oats before and after bleaching were submitted 

 to several experienced grain inspectors for grading in the regular 

 manner, with the exception that they did not take into consideration 

 the odor of sulphurous acid on the samples of bleached oats. 



The results of this test were that 6 of the sulphur-bleached sam- 

 ples were classed the equivalent of a full grade higher than the sam- 

 ples representing the corresponding lots of oats before bleaching and 

 3 of the samples were raised from the average to the top of the same 

 grade. 



Change in Moisture and Weight. Samples of oats before and 

 after bleaching were collected at various places throughout the oat- 

 producing sections. The samples before bleaching were taken as the 

 grain was being elevated to the bleaching tower and the samples after 

 bleaching were obtained as the grain was being conveyed back to the 

 storehouse or elevator bin. 



The moisture content of every sample was found to be higher 

 after bleaching. 



Moisture Content and Weight per Measured Bushel of Samples of 

 Oats Before and After Bleaching. 



The average increase in moisture, due to the bleaching, without 

 deducting the loss due to evaporation in handling between the 

 bleacher, the elevator, and the car (0.50 of 1 per cent), was 1.79 per 

 cent. The relative increase in moisture was not constant, the varia- 

 tions being due largely to different methods of operating the various 

 bleachers as well as to the quality and condition of the grain before 

 bleaching. 



