16 
BULLETIN 102, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
23.6 C .C. 
~~] 32/ C.C. 
bin at a terminal market. During the course of the experiment the 
corn was allowed to go out of condition and underwent considerable 
deterioration. The degree of acidity is shown as a factor in com- 
parison with other factors which determine the quality and soundness 
of corn. 
Corn under certain conditions may attain a temperature of 100° F. 
or more before it becomes discolored or shows to the eye any 
effect of damage by heat. Table X shows the effect of the increase 
of temperature upon the degree of acidity, percentage of germina- 
tion, and percentage of sound kernels as found in samples having 
undergone ocean transportation. The samples were taken at 
European ports at the time the vessels were unloaded. Nine cargoes 
are represented. The corn at the 
time of loading was cool, the great- 
est bulk of it being below 50° F. 
Through ocean transportation cov- 
ering a period ranging from 14 to 30 
or 35 days 1 a large part of the 
corn attained a temperature greater 
than it had at the time of loading. 
This increase varied from one or 
two to over a hundred degrees in 
the case of the badly damaged 
portions of the cargoes. In the 
table the degree of acidity and the 
percentages of germination and of 
sound kernels represent the av- 
erage of all samples which showed 
temperatures below 50° F., between 51° and 60°, between 61° and 
70°, between 71° and 80°, between 81° and 90°, between 91° and 100°, 
and above 100°, respectively, at the time of discharge of the cargoes. 
Samples which attained a temperature of 71° or more showed marked 
evidence of deterioration, and the higher the temperature the more 
advanced the stage of deterioration and the higher the degree of 
acidity. 
HEAT DAMAGE 
I Qo/c 
1 I S.<»% 
SOUND CO&N 
] ees'K 
95.0°/, 
GE&M/NA r/o/v 
Fig. 14.— Graphic comparison of the condition of 
corn at the time an elevator storage hin was 
filled and at the time the bin was emptied, show- 
ing the degree of acidity as a factor in compari- 
son with other factors which determine quality 
and soundness. 
Table X. — Degree of acidity, percentage of germination, and percentage of sound kernels 
of samples representing 9 cargoes of exported corn, showing the effect of the increase 
of temperature. 
Basis of comparison. 
Temperature of samples at time of discharge (° F.). 
Below 50°. 
51° to 60°. 61° to 70°. 
71° to 80°. 81° to 90°. 
91 ° to Above 
100°. i 100°. 
Number of samples 
106 
21.0 
50.2 
88.38 
65 
24.4 
39.4 
84.4 
70 
26.8 
42.1 
81.65 
44 
31.9 
36.0 
71.68 
29 
33.5 
21.7 
60.73 
20 
33.7 
18.8 
50.94 
109 
Degree of acidity c. c. . 
Germination per cent. . 
Sound kernels as determined by 
mechanical analysis, per cent. 
42.5 
4.2 
14.10 
1 In the case of one vessel a period of 50 days elapsed from the time of loading until the time of discharge. 
