GRAIN CONSERVATION 137 



I hope we have demonstrated conclusively that 

 the air-tight storage of grain is a perfectly rational 

 method of treatment based upon a sound scientific 

 foundation. It remains for the engineers and others 

 to say how far it is practicable upon a large scale, 

 but I may say that I have been assured on good 

 authority that no serious difficulty would arise in 

 the construction of air-tight stores or granaries. 



If this is the case, I think that this system of 

 storage ought to be very seriously considered by 

 the proper authorities whoever they may be. 



If the grain were stored in this way in the country 

 of origin for a few months before shipment, it 

 would be completely sterilised as regards insect life, 

 and with reasonable precautions on board ship it 

 could not become infected during the voyage. 

 Air-tight storage on the voyage might be a more 

 difficult problem ; its chief value would be to pre- 

 vent the heating which takes place when the grain 

 gets damp. If the grain were landed in this country 

 in an insect-free condition there would be little risk 

 of subsequent insect infection unless it were pro- 

 posed to keep it for a long period, when air-tight 

 storage might again be resorted to. 



No doubt air-tight storage would involve a large 

 expenditure of capital, but considering the immense 

 amount of damage which might be prevented, this 

 expenditure would in all probability be abundantly 

 justified. Another advantage of air-tight storage 



