Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-13
Corn Should be
Stored in Ventilated
Moisture-Proof Cribs

4" neither corn StONcT Is SHAe W
not It is Of great Importance that Il
be well stored and not left long ex-
posed to the weather. The mistake Il
sometimes made Of placing the hay
crop in sheds and barns and leaving
the corn slower In shocks in the Held
The reverse IL better. inasmuch as
most kinds Of hay will not depreciate
so rapidly in feeding value and viii
keep better in stacks and ricks than
corn slower. Unless placed under clo-
yer corn slower should be fed in the
fall and early winter. If left exposed
until February or March it has little
feeding value.
In the principal corn producing
states the autumns are usually dry
and corn fodder dries thoroughly IN
the shocks and is shredded and stored
in barns or feed sheds with little dan
ger Of heating or molding. The fodder
should not be wet when shredded ano
stored but damp days are preferable
for doing the hauling and shreddins
because the blades are more pliaole
and the fodder is therefore handled
with less waste. But in some sections
corn Is full of sap when cut, and where
damp fall weather prevails. much care
is necessary in storing corn fodder or
slower to prevent heating and rnolding.
In such localities it should be placed
under cover in ricks not more than SIX
or eight feet in thickness. or. II shred
ded. layers OF dry straw several inches
deep should alternate with LAWYERS OF
the shredded slower. The depth OF the
layers of slower can vary from several
inches to foot or more. according to
its dryness when stored. The dry
straw will take up some OF the mois-
ture from the slower and prevent heat
ing.
There was a time in the history OF
the corn pro ucing belt when rail pens
were about the only available means
of storing the corn crop. Much to the
discredit OF some corn growers this
method OF storing is still in vogue,
even in sections where good means OF
storage could be afforded at little ex-
pense. 1t is no uncommon sight 10
see rail pen after rail pen filed with
ears of corn and without any cover.
exposed to all the rains and SHOWS Of
"
country that produce the most corn
and are consequently most interested
in hieher-priced corn. This corn re-
mains in apparently good condition
during the cold weather and is usually
placed upon the market in early
spring. Filled with water. 1t it is not
long after IL is loaded into box cars or
vessels until il heats and spoils. The
installation OF elevators where such
corn can he kiln dried has been
brought about bythi s poor manner OF
storing the corn crop. There Is gem
eral prejudice against kiindried corn.
resulting fro mthe fact that kiln drying
was first employed and is at present
employed TO very large extent to
prevent further heating and fermenta-
ton Of corn that was not allowed TO
dry properly OF was poorly stored be-
fore being placed upon the market.
This state OF affairs. which results
from allowing the corn to remain wet
during winter and necessitates the re-
moval OF the water by expensive
means. keeps the price OF corn lower
than it would be II the corn were al
lowed to dry In the fields and were
Grain buyers would pay better price
If the general supply Of corn reached
them in a condition that would insure
its preservation without drying and
the resulting shrinkage.
In addition TO affording thorough
ventilation 10 the stored grain and
protection from driving rains. cribs
should be constructed in such a man
ner that they can be filled and emptied
with the least possible labor. For level
ground double cribs with an elevated
driveway and approaches that will en-
able the loads to be driven through the
cribs and dumped or scooped out Of
the wagons without any high pitching
are very satisfactory
Potection From Insects, Mice and Rats.
In sections where insects are de-
structive to stored grain, cleanliness is
OF value in preventing injury from this
source. Small quantities Of grain
should not be left in the cribs during
rhe summer, as they tend to harbor
these pests. Where insects are de-
structive 20 the stored grain, it is a
good practice to dispose OF the entire
crop as early as possible and clean the
cribs thoroughly, so that there are left
Few hiding places and no food to carry
the insects thru the summer In
southern localities. where the weather
is warm enough to permit these pests
to work thruout the entire year. it is
best to construct the cribs so that they
can be made practically air-tight and
then to treat the crop with some in
secticide such as carbon bisulphid. If
this plan We're thoroughly carried out
the corn weevil could be practically
exterminated.
AS a protection against rats, mice
and sparrows. galvanized wire cribs
are coming into use. Wire netting OF
about one-fourth inch mesh can be
successfully used in the construction
Of frame corncribs. This wire netting
can be tackled to the inside Of the up
rights Of the crib. and the strips which
constitute the sides Of the crib can also
be nailed on the inside OF the uprights
thus holding the wire netting in place
AS floor, which should be eighteen
inches or more from the ground. so as
not to afford q hiding place for rats
the wire netting can be tackled to the
sieepers and the flooring nailed over to
hold the wire in place For overhead
protection the wire netting Is simply
tackled, to the joists
II cribs are built upon solid concrete
foundations thru which rats can not
burrow no netting will be needed 70,
the floor, and the structure can be KEEP,
near the ground With ample ROOT
projection and upper ventilation nc
danger from dampness need be feared
Shrinkage.
The shrinkage that will take place
in a crib Of corn from the time II Is