Nebraska advertiser., 1858-07-15
From the Country Gentleman.
Measuring Corn in a Crib,


b1rssEs EDIToRs:
In the Cul;ivator for January, D Is, I
find an article from "W II. c. on meas
uring corn in the crib. Said article was
written TO show that a rule which tho
writer had seen IN the Saturday Even
ing Post WIS not correct. The rule was
TO multiply the cubic feet contents of the
crib by four and half, and cut off the
right hand figure, which would give the
bushels Of shelled corn.
As | have seen the above rule credited
to the Prairie Farmer, l conclude it is
calculated more particularly for the west,
where they reckon two bushels of shelled
corn for every three of cars. The rule
Is certainly not correct when it requires 9
bushels OF ears for l of shelled corn. Nor
Is the rule given by your correspondent
correct, by a long way, US l think shall
show. He gives the true number of
bushels crib would contain, Of struck
measure; but he seems to have lost sight
Of the fact that in the State of New
York, and further east, we have TO give
rounding measure.
He gives the true amount in the crib
(struc.t or even measure) as l I,2S5 BUSH
els ears. Now deduct one-Gfth, which is
the rule here, for allowance for ROUNDING,
the halt bushel, and we have I.O2S6
bushels Of ears, or5l4,I bushels sbeIled
corn; 5l4,3 then, would be very near the
number Of 6uehclo Of shclled corn in a
crib Of the Dimensions nc gives, from the
kind of corn we raise here. The reason
will be seen by multiplying the cubic foot
(1,6OO) by the number Of inches in a
cubic foot (I,I2S) and dividing by the
number Of inches in 4 busleI (2.IJOl2)
which gives the contents, (I,2S5.7) struck
measure. Then deduct the allowance Is
for rounding the measure, and YOU have
the number Of bushels of ears lI,O2S.6)
one half Of which would be the number
of bushels shcIled corn.
The rule laid down by W. II. G. is, TO
deduct one-Gfth from the cubic feet con-
tents Of the crib. To use the example
he gives: Thus-20 by 90 Iv 8 equals
1000 fect--deduct I-5 and we have =
$50 bushels ears.
By the rule given in the Post 10 multi
ply the cubic feet contents by 4 and half
thus: 20 by 10 Ly s equal 1900 feet
l,CUO by four and a half equal 72O bush
els Of shelIcd corn, Assuming this to be-
reCIionCd a three bushels Of ears to two
of shelicd corn, then to reduce il TO our
standard, we must multiply the 72O by 3.
and divide by 2 to get the number Of
bushels Of ears, thus: 720 by 8 divided
by 2 equals ,USO bushels Of ecrs, or $40
shelled corn. Here, again we have too
much, though this comes much nearer
THAI the rule given by the Post or by w.
H. c. a..-a
Now. to rccapitulatc, we have-frst,
by actual contents, calculating by the num-
Der Of inches; and allowing one-fifth for
rounding measure, 5l4,3 bushels; by w.
II. C.'s rule, $40 bushels; by The rule in
the Post, 72O bushels; reducing the lat
ter to our standard, $40 bushels.
Here you perceive is a wide differ
ence. The first and last being the near
est 10 each other, and the first; l think,
nearest Of any to the truth.
Now, were | to give a rule tLat would
be simple and at the same time nearly
correct, it would be nearly as follows
Multiply the cubic feet contents by three
and one fourth, cut Of the right hand fig
urc, and you have the number of bush
els Of sheIIed corn near enough for prac-
teal purposes, though 1t may be a little
too much.
A very little observation will serve to
test the correctness Of this rule. Of all
( things, | hate to see a farmer cheat or
deceive himself in estimating his crops.
As truth IS what YOU and your readers
wish to get At, have venturcd to write
the above.
Tyour corn IS green, or il it has not
settled in the crib, it viii be safer to null
tiPly by3 Is. J. T. OvExsuIRE.