The circle banner., 1917-01-19

| tent to prevent further heating and
fermentation of corn that was not al
lowed to dry properly or was poorly
stored before being placed upon the
| market. This state of affairs, which
results from allowing the corn to re-
main wet during winter and necessi-
tates the removal of the water by ex-
pensive means, keeps the price of corn
lower than it would be if the corn
were allowed to dry in the fields and
were kept dry until placed upon the
market Grain buyers would pay a
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 to the stored grain and pro-
lection 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 lev
el ground double cribs with an ele-
waited driveway and approaches that
will enable the loads to be driven
through the cribs and dumped or
scooped out of the wagons without any
high pitching are very satisfactory.
Protection From Insects.
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
the summer, as they tend to harbor
these pests. Where insects are de-
structlve to 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 through the summer
In southern localities, where the
weather is warm enough to permit
these pests to work throughout the en-
tire year, 1t is best to construct the
cribs so that they can be made prac-
tically air-tight and then to treat the
crop with some insecticide such as car
bon bisulphide. If this plan were thor
oughly 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 also
be successfully used in the construc-
ton Of frame corncribs. This wire
the uprights 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 a floor, which should be
Is inches or more from the ground, so
as not to afford a hiding place for
rats, the wire netting can be tackled
to the sleepers and the flooring nailed
over to hold the wire in place. For
overhead protection the wire netting
Is simply tackled to the joists.
If cribs are built upon solid con-
crete foundations through which rats
cannot burrow no netting will be
needed, for the floor and the struc-
lure can be kept near the ground.
With ample roof projection and upper
ventilation no danger from dampness
iced be feared.
Shrinkaqe.
The shrinkage that will take place
n the crib OF corn from the time IL
S cribbed in the fall until 1t is sold
7aries so greatly in accordance with
he amount of moisture the corn con-
aims when placed in the crib, and also
he ventilation of the crib, that it is
to state percentage OF
;hrinkage that will apply with GER
ainty to any particular crib Of stored
.orn. Various tests show that during
he first year the shrinkage In cribbed
.orn approximates Is per cent for the
irst year and 20 per cent for two
ears.