The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-11-08
MOISTURE IN CORN
Moisture Content Important 30
Both Dealer and Producer.
Farmers Get Higher Prices for Corn
Containing Low Per Cent Of
Moisture.
WET CORN LIABLE TO SPOIL.
Railroads Cannot Handle II, Ware
house Men and Dealers Afraid
Of It-old Corn Commands
a Premium.
WET CORN LIABLE TO SPOIL.
BY w. p. Carroll, U. s. Dept. Of AurL
culture, Bureau Of Plant Industry.

me mOlbtur6 content OF corn nht
become OF more Importance to dealers
and producers OF that cereal, during
the past decade than II ever did be
fore. OF course corn, before that
period, contained excessive moisture
but no Importance was attached to II
until producers ceased to keep thelf
corn for the next years market. II
was at this period that the present
custom Of marketing the corn crop d.
rect from the field and cribs arose.
Corn from a previous years crop has
now become a curiosity upon the mar.
ket and when such corn Is found II
generally commands a premium.
Moisture Fixes Grade.
Moisture in the great majority OF
cases is practically the paramount fac
tor in fixing the grade OF corn and as
must necessarily follow It's price upon
the market II one lot OF corn Is COM
mercially dry but contains a consider
able amount OF damaged kernels, II
will often receive a higher grade than
will another lot OF damp corn which
contains no damaged grains. To many
persons who do not understand these
factors, this seems an Injustice, be-
cause they do not appreciate the i'm
portanee that must be attached to the
moisture factor
Water by the 6ushel.
Moisture in corn affects IT'S intrinsic
value from the standpoint OF the feed
er. manufacturer and warehouseman.
Moisture Is water, whether fed to ami
mails In corn or given in the water
trough. and feeder can procure his
water much more inexpensvely than
buying II by the bushel. The manu-
facturer considers excessive moisture
in corn not only a loss from buying
water instead OF corn, but menace
I as we'll In that his products are too
I damp for storage and may possibly
mold and heat before he can dry or
dispose OF them. when the ware
houseman fills his elevators with wet
corn, he ia confronted with this state
| Of affairs.
Runs Big Chances.
II he places the corn In large guam
titles In his bins, he Is Obliged to keep
, tuning Il over on account OF its la
bility to heat and on the other hand
/ n ne dries Il In a drier. the shrinkage
n so large together with the cost OF
the extra handling that It often
changes his contemplated profits to
loss. While corn IS IN a wet state and
stored in considerable quantities Il is
always liable to heat unless kept In
frozen condition. state in which II
Is Impractical TO keep corn. The con-
sequent risk In taking care OF wet corn
always reduces the price that buyer
will pay for q. because be must pro
tect himself against a possible loss.
Terminating Season"
sprlugtlme has often been men
toned az O dangerous period in which
. TO ship corn. because &c is the germin-
atiug season" The termination or
corn or OF any seed depends upon
three factions. namely. air heat and
moisture. and whenever and wherever
these factors are present in sufficient
quantities. granting that the germ is
alive. tho seed viii gcrminate. This
fact may be easily and satisfactorily
demonstrated by placing few kernels
under the conditions above mentioned.
Indeed. upon this fact depends the
prosperity OF those engaged in produc-
Ing flowers and vegetables tout OF
season
/ Therefore. 10 avoid the danger OF
corn going out Of condition It is neces-
sary TO remove, so far as &c may be
possibIe. the conditions that are favor
able to termination.
Dangers In Shipping.
In shipping corn. 90 Is difficult 20
control the factors OF heat and air. and
the easiest Is the moisture content OF
the grain. which should De reduced
enough to make the conditions for
termination unfavorahle. From mum
7 erous observations. IL is generally CON
sidered that the conditions conducive
10 termination are also favorable Tor
the growth OF molds. fungus and bac.
terra. Engines and other ferments
would also have a favorable condition
for action and the latter having the
power 10 change the composition OF
the grain would generate heat II this
heat IL not conducted away from the
bulk grain By the air or other means
sufficient heat will be retained 70
cause the whole mas % grain TO heat
From the foregoing. IL 7ay be seen
why 90 much importance Is nov
placed upon the moisture content OF
corn. Il Affects not only the real
worth Of the corn but iu STORING
quality az veil.