418 FARM MANAGEMENT 



On a farm in Kansas, 16,155 bushels of corn, 70 pounds 

 to the bushel, was weighed as it came from the field 

 during the husking season. It was weighed again in July 

 when it was sold, and weighed 14,896 bushels. This is a 

 shrinkage of 7.8 per cent. 



A number of tests in Illinois showed a range of shrink- 

 age of 12 to 20 per cent during the first year. This was 

 for corn husked in October and early November. 



From the results in Iowa, it will be seen that the shrink- 

 age is very rapid when first stored. There is little de- 

 crease in weight during the winter, but a heavy shrinkage 

 when hot weather comes on. 



Average figures on shrinkage of corn must be used with 

 judgment, because the condition of the corn at the time 

 of storage is so variable, and because the weight depends 

 so much on the weather. During damp weather, corn 

 absorbs moisture so that it gains in weight. In one case 

 in the Illinois tests, a crib of corn gained 3 per cent during 

 a wet week in March. 



The shrinkage is also dependent on the number of rats 

 and mice that one is raising. In parts of the South, the 

 loss due to the grain moth is exceedingly heavy. 



All the examples of shrinkage are for ear corn. The 

 cob shrinks relatively more than the grain, so that if 

 corn is sold shelled, the shrinkages here given are a little 

 too large. 



Wheat, oats, barley, and rye shrink comparatively 

 little after the grain has gone through the " sweat " 

 either in the stack or in the bin. When stored in large 

 elevators, the shrinkage is estimated to be about 1^ per 

 cent in six months. The chief source of shrinkage on the 

 farm is the grain eaten by rats and mice. 



Well-cured hay, as it is ready to go to the barn, usually 



