Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-25
Shrinkage on the Farm.


The loss of corn and fodder by
shrinkage varies according to climate
and the conditions of the atmosphere.
Experiments have been made in diff
that there is a wide difference in the
shrinkage Of corn, wheat and other
grains, and that sometimes the loss
by shrinkage is such as to render the
crop improbable. The Michigan Agri-
cultural Experiment Station has given
the results of several years work in
solving the problem, and also published
facts from other sources. Referring
to the relative weights of ears, leaves
and stalks, it was found that on Au-
gust "a about 24.3 per cent. of the
total weight of the corn plant above
ground was in the ear. This per cent.
gradually increased until near har-
vest time (September 14) above 35.7
Of the total weight Of the plant was
in the ear. At harvest 46.3 per cent.
Of the dry matter of the entire plant
was in the ear. This experiment was
repeated the next year, when it was
found that about Al per cent. Of the
total dry matter of the plant was in
the ear. At harvest September 1D
the ear contained 45.57 per cent. Of
dry matter, the stalks 21.53 per cent.
and the leaves 27.27 per cent, the ears,
therefore, not being relatively as dry
as the leaves and stalks. 1t may be
claimed, by way of convenience,
therefore, that the amount of dry mat
ter in the ears Is about equal to that
of the whole plant. Ensilage corn,
cut at different dates, showed the fol-
lowing percentages of moisture: Au-
gust 10 the moisture was $3.50; Au-
gust %, 1918; September 6, 1851, and
September 10, G5.14. One lot of 1916
bushels of corn, Of 20 pounds per
bushel, was carefully weighed when
cribbed. 1t was to be delivered in
July. 1t weighed at the elevator a
fraction over 1896 bushels, showing
n loss from shrinkage of over 1858
bushels, or about 7% per cent. In one
experiment 1000 pounds oil corn
shrank 400 pounds between October 10
and January 10. At the end of the
year the kernels Of corn contained
1914 per cent. of water and the cobs
25,S2 per cent.
1t has been demonstrated that there
is slight loss Of weight in wheat
between complete ripeness and the
stage known as dead ripe. There is
not only loss by shelling when the
grain becomes oyer-ripe, but a given
area, kept in the ordinary manner.
will weigh less If taken from an over
ripe field than if taken from field cut
at the proper time. The amount and
quality of the flour, as well as the
terminating vigor of the grain, are
also less If the grain is allowed to be-
come overripe. Wheat will shrink if
the climate is dry, but when the wheat
is taken from an intensely dry climate
to comparatively damp one the gain
In weight may amount to as much as
twenty-five per cent. In eighteen
days in an absolutely dry atmosphere
the loss in air-dried wheat was GO
per cent; oats, 93 per cent, and
| barley, rs per cent According to this
there must naturally be gain if ex.
| posed again to moist air, the gain in
oats in eighteen days being 1913 Del
cent; barley, 2o4 per cent, and wheat
| lin IA days., 1873 per cent. In a very
| dry climate the grain from such nav
| greatly increase in weight IL shipped
to some point where the air is moist
the purchaser making the gain by the
absorption of moisture by the grain
| Experiments also show that wheat
lost and gained in weight several
times in season by reason of being
| exposed to dry and moist conditions
The difference in loss or gain of
weight depends upon the condition of
the wheat when cured, and hard wheat
loses less than the soft varieties. I he
same rule applies to corn, oats and
other grains. Shrinkage usually occurs
when grain is kept dry. but loss from
shrinkage does not occur in all places
with uniformity, as gain in weight
may result during damp periods-Phil-
adelphla Record.