24 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



From these figures it will be seen that the fodder lost iu the pro- 

 cess of ensilage from 8.9 to 34.8 per cent, of its solids. 

 The following table shows the loss in each ingredient : 



Table III. 



Ingredients. 



Frosh maizo 



Sour maize, 17 inches from top.. 



Loss 



Sour maize, 34 inches from top .. 



Loss 



Brown maizo, 34 inches from top. 



Loss 



Brown maize, 68 inches from top. 



Loss 



Fresh maize 



Sour maize, 38 inches from top. . 

 Loss 



0.20 

 0.17 

 0.03 

 18 

 0.02 

 0.14 

 0.06 

 0.20 

 0.00 

 0.19 

 0.24 

 0.05 



From this table it is learned that the albuminoid comi)ounds have 

 been reduced from 8 to 38 per cent , and the carbolndrates from 13 

 to 58 per cent. These amounts have disappeared — been destroyed 

 — through the changes which the fodder has gone through in the 

 silo. These results do not seem to confirm the claim previously 

 referred to, that the fodder is "doubled in value b}' the softening 

 and fermentive process which it undergoes in the silo." 



From the examination here given to the subject the conclusion is 

 obvious, that the advantage of the silo is simply to store green 

 fodder ; and with this it wholl}' ends. 



If, then, a farmer proposes to change his forage crops by substi- 

 tuting fodder corn for his former product of hay, he will find himself 

 called upon to decide the question, whether upon the point of econ- 

 omy, it will be better to prepare silos, and store it iu a green state, 

 or provide barns and store it dry. Chiefiy on account of the diffi- 

 culty of drying it, so that it may be stored in large quantities iu a 

 body, the preference undoubtedly will be in favor of the silo. But 

 that farmers have that high appreciation of fodder corn that they 

 will deem it advisable or to their advantage to adopt the growing of 

 it as their chief forage crop to take the place of the grasses and 

 clover, cannot now be conceded, nor can such a course be recom- 

 mended. On strong soils — natural grass lands — grass will not he 



