G R A I N. 



It has been ^idvill-d, in order to prefcrve grain in a proper 

 hale after tlire (liing it out, to have it as expeditioully as 

 poliible cleaned from the chaff, when the air is in a dry 

 llatc, and put into a room, chel.l, or bin, which is perfeftly 

 dry and free from any fort of moillure, until it can be 

 properly placed in the granary, or be fent away tor iule. 

 'ri\is fii'onld always be effected as early as poliible, as, by 

 delaying the cleaning of the corn, the fample is very hable 

 to be injured. 



The cleaning of the grain is performed in feveral different 

 ways ; but where threlhing-machines are in ufe, they are 

 now molUy contrived in Inch a way as to execute it at the 

 fame tijnc the thrclhing is going on. Tlie winnowing- 

 machine is alfo frequently employed for the fame purpoie, 

 and anfwers perfectly well. And in forae fituations the 

 caJlhig-lhovA and Jprj, or flat broom, as well as the/nifl/e, are grain in thefe 

 made "ufe of, the Ijroom ferving to remove the chaffy parts pretty freely, 



matters : or, after it has been cleaned, by preventing its 

 being depolited upon them, either in the loole ftate, or in 

 facks. And farther, by having great regard to the drynefs 

 of tlie air when the bufincfs is performed. 



Ln inrtances of the latter kind mucli is capable of being 

 accomplidied by having proper apparatus, fuch as flides, 

 fliutters, and other fuitable contrivances, lixed in the pipes, 

 funnels, and other openmgs, defigned for the purpofe of 

 ventilation in the corn-chambers and granaries ; which 

 fliould be preferved, conilantly fliut in a clofe manner at all 

 times when the air is much impregnated with watery parti- 

 cles, fo as to prove hurtful to the grain. Damp and frofty 

 weather are, of courfe, always improper for expofmg grain 

 to the air in, as it niuft, in fuch fealons, do great mifchief. 

 But, beiides air, light is effential in the prcfervation of 

 circumftances, as, where it is not admitted 

 a kind of vegetable mucor, or mould, a.i 



aiid the more minute llrawy particles w-hich are feparatcd already noticed, is liable to fix upon the grain, and injure it 

 from the grain by the wind. This method can, however, greatly. The ingenious author of the " Philofopliy of 

 only be employed with advantage where there is plenty of Gardening and Agriculture," has remarked, that this pot 



barn-room ; under other circumllances the wnmowmg-ma 

 chine is far more beneficial and proper. The pratlice of 

 cleaning grain on the barn-floor, by means of the wind, is 

 not only tedious and troublefume, but an extremely imperfecl 

 method. 



In whatever wav the extraneous matters have been re- 



fcffes the fame property as that of other fungufcs, of grow- 

 ing where there is icarcely any change of air, and in places 

 where there is little or no light, provided there be the necef- 

 farv degree of warmth and moillure. On the fame prin- 

 ciple, with the intention of retaining the grain in a ftate 

 as free as potfible from dampnels, it is fuggefted by the 



moved from grain, it fliould, as foon as the operation has fame writer, that it might be ufeful to have well conftrufted 

 been performed, cfpccially in barley and wheat, be put 

 through a fcreen-machine, which, in molt of the more im- 

 proved threfliing and winnowing-machines, is provided with 

 this intention, and is thereby rendered free from all forts of 

 fmall feeds and other foreign matters. In this way the ova 

 of different forts of infeft s are alfo removed, and the pro- 

 duftion of the weevil, motli, beetle, S:c. prevented, as well 

 as the deflruftion which they commil while in their vermi- 

 cular ftate, guarded againft. 



Screen machines may be had feparatcly from the others ; 

 but the work of cleaning the grain h the moft readily, 

 cheaplv, and conveniently performed, where they are con- 

 Tieited with the other neceffary machinery. 



It has been fuggelted, that as the prevention of all forts 

 of corn from being affefted by the dilTerent caufcs that 

 have a tendency to injure it, when laid up for the purpofe 

 of keeping, depends upon its being put by in a perfedly 

 di-y condition, and on its being afterwards preferved in that 

 fituation ; it is of much conlequence, in thefe views, to 

 keep it, from the period of its beinir threilied out of the 



ftoves in the bottom parts of corn-chambers and granaries, 

 for the purpofe of occafionally communicating inch mode- 

 rate degrees of heat to the grain as would be fufficient to 

 dry up and expel any injurious moifture that it might have 

 attrafted in damp wet feafons. On this idea it has, indeed, 

 long ago been recommended as fupportcd by experience by 

 Mr. Tail, to preferve -wheat, by expofing it to the action 

 of a fun-fliine degree of heat upon a hair-cloth, in a malt- 

 kiln, produced by the combuftion of clean ilraw, for fuch 

 a length of time as may be neceffary to remove the dampnefs, 

 as from four or five to ten or twelve hours, according to the 

 proportion in which it may exift. But in this method the 

 heat fliould be conftantly kept fo moderate as not to dcftroy 

 the vegetative property, or life of the grain, as, if that were 

 the cafe, its putrefaction and decay would be promoted. 

 The degrees of heat that would be the moft adapted to 

 anfwer the purpofe, in different cafes, would be eafily regu- 

 lated by thofe inftruments which are in general ufe for 

 meaiuring the heat and moifture of the atmofphere. Thefe 

 principles aflift u.s much in reconciling the differences of 

 opinion that have fo long prevailed in refpeft to the ufe of 

 air in the prcfervation or corn in granaries, as they iufii- 



Itraw, as nuich as poffflile from coming in contaft with the 

 earth, ttone, or any other iorts of floors that are placed near 



to, or upon the ground, as they have conftantly a great dif- ciently fli5)W, that \vhen admitted in its perfeftly dry <'.nd 

 pofition to communicate moifture, and in that way injure claltic ftate, it muft be particularly ufeful in carrymg off any 

 the grain that refts upon them. moifture or difagrecable fniell that the grain may have con- 

 It is likewife found to be a highly beneficial praftice to traftcd by remaining clofely heaped together for fome length 

 'prevent, as much as poliible, the entrance of the atmofpheric of time ; as, by the ftirring that moftly accompanies the 

 air, whenever it is much loaded with humidity; as from the ventdation, it mult neceffanly operate in a very extenfive 

 vail extent of furface that is expofed to its aftion, it is eal'y manner ; but that when apphed in its moilt heavy ftate, it 



to peiceive that it nuiit be highly preiudicial to the corn, 

 by imparting its moiilure to it, as a fort of mucor, or moul- 

 dniefs, is thereby brought on, that is attended with a mufty 

 difgulling fmell, and that prevents its keeping in a proper 

 manner. In regard to the means of prevention, they mult 

 be different in difl'erent cafes ; but much may be done in the 

 firlt of the above fituations, by cautioufly avoiding the 



mult be detrimental in an equally proportionate degree, by 

 imparting its humidity to the grain, and thereby caufing a 

 fort of mullinefs. 



It is probable that the ventilation of grain is the mft 

 completely effected by ftirring it by means of proper Aides, 

 doors, or other fimilar contrivances made in the floors, wui- 

 dows, and other openings of the granaries or corn-chambers ; 



too general practices ot permitting the corn to remain upon but it is capable of being accomplilhed in a more flow and 

 the tlirefliing-floors in the barns, particularly where they are lefs economical manner by fliovels, rakes, and other liioilar 

 of the earthy or ftoney kinds, too long after it is thrcflied tools. And in order that the work may be more readily 

 ciit,Vefore it is cleaned from the chaff, and other ufeleis and more effectually performed, the grain fliould not be 



7 fpread 



