Middletown transcript., 1897-09-25
M1DDLETowN. DEL. SEP. IS. 1897.
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FlEERsslR RIRRPEN
sHRlNKAeE OF WHEAT.
Shall We Sell or Not Directly From the
Thrasher7

Shall We Sell or Not Directly From the
Thrasherf
What is the gain In selling new wheat
from the thrashers at 75 cents over
keeping 1t four months and selling at 90
cents? In other words, what is the or
dinary shrinkage in wheat when kept
under ordinary conditions? This query
was submitted for answer in The Rural
New Yorker. Among other replies came
the following from L. W. Bonham Of
Ohio. Mr.. Bonham writes:
The first question involves more than
ordinary shrinkage. I have measured
wheat at the time Of thrashing and
again after 1t had been stored In the
granary several months, but find that it
il very difficult TO arrive at satisfac-
tory answer. The problem involves sew
eral factors, such as the degree Of dry
ness Of the grain, tightness of the
granary, the number of rats, mice and
fowls that find access and so on. II
grain be abnormally dry when 1t Is
thrashed and be held until spring with
out any loss from rats, mice, fowls and
thieves, there will be little or no loss Of
weight. There may be gain. II the
wheat be taken out during q thaw,
when the air is warmer than the wheat
In the granary, every grain collects q
little dampness. and by the time 1t has
been sacked and hauled to the scales the
increase in weight may be considerable.
Professor Brewer several years ago
reported for the government the at
mospheric influences on wheat from the
time it left the thrasher to the time 1t
went into the hold Of the vessel This
report shows the condemnation on the
grain as it runs ice cold from an eleva-
tor Of warm day on the lake or ocean
coast TO be several per cent The in
crease In weight Of carload Of new
wheat from the ranch In California 10
the port in San Francisco was enough
more than to pay the freight. This
factor Of condemnation will vary 30
much between the time Of thrashing in
August and selling in the spring that
the farmer needs more accurate means
Of measuring and weighing for making
the test
When the granary is so tight as %
protect against any loss by vermin or
thieves, 1t is safe to count on taking out
as many pounds in February or March
as we put in in August or September.
The factor, however, that has concerned
me more is the labor. ! have sold from
the thrasher, hauling direct to the ele-
vator, and have stored it in the granary
and for short time on the barn floor,
when could nor get teams enough to
haul to the elevator as fast as 1t was
thrashed. Keeping an accurate account
Of the cost of the two methods, have
concluded that there is saving in la
Dor Of cents tushel by hauling at
once to the elevator. If 1t should hap
pen that the wind, rats, fowls or men
from neglect caused the grain to get so
dirty in bulk as to need cleaning with
a tanning mill, then the cost is in
creased or Q cents. Unless one is sure
of more than cents advance II is bet
ter to haul the grain to market as 1t
comes from the thrasher, when we
thrash from the shock or stack. II the
grain is thrashsd in the barn, the labor
Of sacking. loading aud hauling the
thrashed grain from stack or field is
saved and there is less gained by haul
ing direct from the machine TO market.