VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 63 



sugar content as the day advances. As between orchards there are large 

 variations. In five cases 2.08 and 3.44 percents. were extremes. In 

 the same place in consecutive years the sugar contents were 2.14 and 2.42 

 percents., while the average sugar contents in sap flowing from the ex- 

 perimental trees was 3.13 and 3.41 percents. This was not due to a se- 

 lection of trees, but to rain water and snow. A third of the entire liquid 

 gathered, hauled and evaporated was rain and snow water. The expense 

 of handling this material would pay the cost of pail covers in a short 

 time. 



6. What draft does an average sugar yield make upon the total 

 sugar content of a tree? Provided three pounds of sugar be made to the 

 tree, from 4 to 9 percent., according to the size of the tree, is re- 

 moved. 



WHAT KIND OF CORN SHALL BE PLANTED FOR SILAGE? 



The wet summers of 1902 and 1903 and the consequent immature corn 

 crop have served better than any Experiment station test to deter 

 farmers from further planting of varieties which will not mature in nor- 

 mal seasons; yet a brief account of trials made in 1900 and 1901, in the 

 seasons before those in which "the rains descended and the floods 

 came" may not be amiss, nor their moral lost. 



Four varieties of corn, Sanford, Red Cob, Learning and a dent corn 

 from Virginia, much vaunted by an institute speaker in Vermont during 

 the winter of 1899-1900, were planted each year. 



Sanford corn is a relatively small flint corn, largely grown and fa- 

 vorably known throughout northern New England. Red Cob is a 

 larger variety, which frequently will nearly and occasionally quite 

 mature at Burlington. Learning is a larger variety, popular in southern 

 New England, characterized in particular by a highly developed leaf 

 growth. The Virginia corn (variety unknown) was a large, impressive 

 looking dent corn, for which great things were claimed as to its 

 growth in latitudes south of 40°. 



The larger corns produced from 50 to 70 percent, more gross weight 

 than did the Sanford, but only an average of 10 percent, more dry mat- 

 ter, and that was less mature. 



The several crops were ensiled. It was found impracticable to make 

 exact separations in the silo, so that only general statements are possi- 

 ble. The silages were fed to many cows and the surface dropped rap- 

 idly, which tended to lessen loss. According to the records for 1900 

 the two dryer corns, Sanford and Red Cob, when ensiled, lost but 2 

 percent, in total weight, while the wetter ones, Learning and Virginia, 

 lost 20 percent. The latter lost 14 percent, of dry matter and the for- 

 mer seemed to gain a small amount of dry matter, an obvious impossi- 

 bility. The dry matter loss, however, can confidently be stated to have 

 been slight. Assuming 5 percent, loss in the one case and 14 percent. 



