STORAGE OF GRAINS AND SEEDS 53 



away the lighter parts. Records are given in the Bible of the use 

 of this method by the ancients. Modern hand fanning mills are 

 inexpensive and should be used more commonly than they are for 

 the removal of chaff from grass or the removal of light weed seeds 

 from the heavier seeds of the desired crop. 



The use of sieve and fan methods are often combined and 

 machines are devised for sifting and fanning out at the same time. 

 A lot of wheat or oats, for example, may be easily improved and 

 the best selected by running it through such a machine a few 

 times. Small seeds are sifted out and light seeds perhaps con- 

 taining smut are blown farther than the others and may be 

 removed. 



Seed Cleaners. There should be a seed cleaner either on every 

 farm which produces seed for sale, or for home use in every neigh- 

 borhood. In the latter case, the machine may be owned by 

 several farmers in the community. If owned by one, he may do 

 seed cleaning for other people at a stated compensation, or he 

 may rent the machine to others at so much per day. 



There are several types of machines used for cleaning seed. 

 The most satisfactory among these have provisions for both 

 sifting and fanning. The large kinds of seed are separated from 

 the small by the sieves. During the same process the heavy seeds 

 are separated from the light seed or chaffy ingredients by the 

 fanning (Fig. 40.) It is surprising how uniform a lot of seed 

 may be. 



Storage of Grains and Seeds. Conditions for the saving of 

 garden seeds have already been given in this chapter. Larger 

 quantities of farm seeds should be stored in mouse-proof bins in 

 well-sheltered buildings. There is always danger of attacks by 

 weevils and grain moths. These enemies are commonly found 

 in the warmer climates. Beans, peas, cow peas, soy beans and 

 others are frequently attacked by bean weevils. In some cases 

 the eggs are laid before the crop is stored. As soon as they begin 

 to hatch the. whole mass of seed should be treated with carbon 

 bisulfide. This may be^done in a bin by placing the liquid in an 

 open vessel above the grain. Evaporation takes place quickly and 

 the fumes settle through the mass of seeds. Sheets or canvas 

 should be spread over the bins, or if possible the bins should be 

 made more nearly air tight during the treatment. This should be 

 repeated in a few weeks after more of the larva? have hatched. 

 The process is inexpensive and may be used with corn, grain or 



