CARRYING QUALITIES OF EXPORT CORN. 3 
and condition of the corn during the voyage. One-half of each 
sample was retained for analyses and the other half put into a “trap”’ 
or crossed, wire container, which was then fastened to the thermometer 
and recovered as the corn was being discharged in Kurope. The 
purpose of using the wire containers was to secure certain definite 
samples with which to correlate the effects of the changes in tempera- 
ture during the voyage on corn differing in moisture content and the 
degree of soundness at the time of loading. As will be shown later, 
the corn in the various vessels at the time of loading varied, consid- 
erably in the factors of quality and condition. Likewise, a large 
proportion of the corn became hot and damaged while it was in the 
vessels. ‘The records show that the quality and condition of the 
corn at the time of loading, the position of stowage in the vessel, the 
Jength of the voyage, the season of the year during which the corn 
was shipped, and the weather conditions during the voyage, each 
influenced, to a great extent, the carrying qualities of the corn during 
the time it was in the vessels. 
MOISTURE CONTENT AS A FACTOR INFLUENCING THE CARRYING QUALITIES OF EXPORT 
CORN. 
The moisture content of corn, and of other grains as well, is the 
primary factor determining their capacity to carry safely in ocean 
transit without deterioration. Corn in which the moisture content is 
sufficiently low will carry safely under ordinary conditions of ocean 
transit for any reasonable length of time during any season of the year, 
no matter where it is stowed in the vessel, while corn containing a high 
moisture content is constantly in danger of heating at any time 
owing to a variety of contributing causes. Thoroughly air-dried 
corn contains from about 12 to 13 per cent of moisture. Such corn 
may be shipped for export at any time under ordinary conditions 
with little or no danger from heating in transit, and this is practically 
true also of corn containing up to 14 per cent moisture provided 
fermentation has not started. The fact that certain lots of corn con- 
tain higher percentages of moisture does not necessarily mean that. ~ 
they will not stand ocean shipment safely. The corn may be per- 
fectly sound, the voyage may be short, the air temperature at the 
time of loading and during the voyage may be low, no disturbing 
influence such as heat radiating from the ship’s boilers and engine 
rooms and shaft tunnels may be encountered, and the corn kept 
practically in cold storage. Under such most favorable conditions, 
corn with a relatively high moisture content may sometimes be 
safely carried. Cargoes of such corn are often landed upon the 
quays in Europe in a perfectly cool condition, which corn, upon being 
exposed to warm atmospheric conditions often becomes hot and unfit 
for reshipment in a short time, When corn ‘‘goes out of condition” 
