140 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 



the report of the farms just referred to (p. 303) the Agriculturist furnishes particulars 

 of an excellent ensilage made at the Central Farm entirely from clover, palatable and 

 eaten with eagerness by dairy cattle. This ensilage, among others, was submitted to 

 analysis and its superiority to corn ensilage, in point of protein-content, demonstrated, 

 as the following averages make evident : 



Corn ensilage . . . 

 Clover ensilage. 



Dry Matter. 



22-94 

 19-76 



Nitrogen Compounds. 

 (Crude Protein). 



Albuminoids. 



•85 

 1-85 



Non- 

 Albuminoids. 



05 

 14 



The fit^ures calculated on the water-free basis make the richer character of the 

 dry matter of the clover ensilage still more apparent. 



Corn ensilage 

 Clover ensilage. 



Nitrogenous Compounds. 

 (Crude Protein). 



Albuminoids. 



Non- 

 Albuminoids. 



4-5G 



5-84 



In spite of these very satisfactory results, however, we must recognize that the 

 ensilin"- of clover by itself is fraught with more or less uncertainty, for efforts made in silos 

 on the experimental farm have at times resulted in a loss or waste equal to 10 per cent 

 of the total feeding value, due to coarseness of material, lack of closeness in packing, or 

 other causes. The plan of ensiling corn with the clover in varying proportions was con- 

 sequently thought worthy of trial by the Agriculturist of the Central Farm, who carried 

 out the idea in 1901-2, by putting in the experimental silo (made of staves, diameter 9 

 feet, height 22 ft.), certain mixtures, as follows : — 



A. — Corn, 4 tons ; clover, 2 tons ; sunflowers, ^ ton. 



B. — Corn, 2 tons ; clover, 4 tons. 



C. — Corn, 4 tons ; clover, 2 tons. 



D. — Corn, 2 tons ; clover, 2 tons. 



* D ' was placed in the silo first, then ' C ', ' B ', ' A ', in the order named. 



The corn and clover were run through the cutting machine together, so that they 

 were considered as fairly well m^ixed. 



These ensilages kept very well, with little loss, and are reported by the Agriculturist 

 as of excellent quality and relished by the cattle. 



They were analysed, samples for this purpose being taken (at the dates mentioned 

 in the subjoined table) during the period in Avhich they were fed; February, March and 

 April, 1902. 



