SILOS AND ENSILAGE. 



23 



" It is, I scarcely doubt, equally true that ensilage is no more 

 palatable, no more digestible, and no more nutritious than the fresh 

 corn from which it is produced. The rumor that ensilage is wortlt 

 more, nay, much more than the fresh corn fodder, has nothing solid 

 to rest upon." 



In the further elucidation of the question, as to the comparative 

 values of the fodder before and after its preservation, the results are 

 given of careful experiments, wliich have recently been made by 

 Moser at the Vicuna Experiment Station, and which show the 

 changes taking place in the gi-een fodder. This seems to be the 

 only reliable data we have at the present time upon this vital point. 

 Table I. needs no explanation. The experiments were made by 

 dertermining by analysis the composition of the green corn. Bun- 

 dles of the same, weighing 13.2 lbs., were placed at different depths 

 in the silos and surrounded by the cut corn where all was covered in 

 the usual manner. At the end of several months it was taken 

 out, the ingredients determined by analysis, and the table shows 

 the result. 



Table I. — Composition of Water-free Substance. 



The following table shows the weight of the bundles when taken 

 from the silo, as compared with the original weight : 



Table II. 



Description of Samples. 



Fresh muizo 



Sour maize, 17 inches from top . . 



do 34 " 



Brown maize, 34 inches from top 



do 08 " 



Fresh maizo, (another sample) . . 

 Sour maize, 38 inches from top.. . 



