SHRINKAGE OF CORN 197 



angle, there is less rotting of the studding and the rain water ]s 

 carried off directly instead of being allowed to run down inside on 



the corn. The crib should not be over eight feet wide for proper 

 ventilation. 



Hollow Tile Corn Crib. A crib which has been growing in favor 

 recently is the hollow tile structure. Special tile is being manu- 

 factured, which, when laid by the mason, has the hollow channel ex- 

 tending downward to the outside of the crib so as to prevent rain or 

 snow getting into the crib. The objection to the cement floor is fast 

 disappearing, and its decided advantage in keeping out rats and mice 

 is being recognized. The hollow tile crib as a rule is built circular, 

 with an open core. running up through the center. It represents a 

 permanent structure at a reasonable cost. 



SHRINKAGE OF CORN. Because of the varying amount of 

 moisture contained in corn at storing time, definite figures of the per- 

 cent of shrinkage are not always reliable. The state of maturity and the 

 condition of the weather at the time of gathering determine to a large 

 extent, the water content. 



Tests at Illinois. ** In tests at the Illinois Station with corn stored 

 from November ii, 1905 to November 3, 1906, the total shrinkage was 

 12.9 per cent. Variations of from 9.0 to 20.7 per cent were found in 

 trials for two years. 



Tests at the Iowa Station. ***According to tests at the Iowa State 

 College, kernels of corn harvested September 14th, contained 41.78 

 per cent of water, while those gathered November 2d showed 17.83 

 per cent of moisture. These figures show the large amount of water 

 stored in a crib of newly husked corn. In another test, corn gathered 

 September 20, 1904, shrank 53.8 per cent by February i, 1905, while 

 ears gathered November 7th lost but 21.4 per cent in weight at the 

 same tim.e. 



A small crib holding about one hundred bushels was built on a 

 truck wagon. This was filled with ear corn during the husking sea- 

 son and careful weights taken at the dates indicated. The following 

 table shows the results obtained : 



**BulIetin No. 50, Illinois. 

 ** 'Thesis Cobagan and Morris, 1907. (Represenis only laboratory tests) 



