REPORT OF TEE CHEMIST 



171 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Notwithstanding the better quality of the dry matter furnished by the Flint corns, 

 the Dent varieties must certainly be considered as easily first from the standpoint of 

 X'aa value of the fodder produced per acre. Thus, the Dents gave an increase in 

 yield of 3 tons 376 lbs., containing 1,076 lbs. of dry matter over the product of the 

 Flin't varieties. This increase in dry matter is chiefly in carbo-hydrates (600 lbs.) and 

 fibre (-100 lbs.), but also possesses a notable amount (20 lbs.) of the more valuable 

 albuminoids. 



KviK, rum: nxsir.AGR, rape and corx exsilage, 



Tlape is bettor known and more widely grown in Canada to-day than ever before, 

 so that now it occupies an important position among the succulent forage crops.* Its 

 use, so far, has been in the fresh condition, being consumed either on the field by the 

 stock (sheep, swine and steers), or cut and used as a soiling crop. On account of its 

 leaves crumbling to powder on drying, rape cannot be cured as hay, and by reason of 

 its large percentage of water, it was considered unsuitable for ensiling. This latter, 

 however, has been disproved by the experiments of Mr. Grisdale, the Agriculturist, 

 who during the past season made ensilage solely of rape and also a mixture of corn 

 and rape, both being found at the end of six months sound and very palatable to cattle. 

 These ensilages were used in a feeding experiment by the Agriculturist, and the results 

 obtained will be found in his report for the current year. 



To supplement these results and to learn what changes might take place by the 

 ensiling of the rape, certain analyses have been made. These analyses, further, allow 

 us to compare the composition of fresh rape, rape ensilage, and an ensilage composed 

 of half rape and half corn. 



Rape, Rape Ensilage and Rape and Corn Ensilage. (Results on the fresh material.) 



Constituents. 



Water 



Crude protein . . 



Fat 



C.irbo-hydrates. 



Fibre 



Ash 



Nitrogenous compounds (crude protein)- 



Albuminoids 



Non-albuminoids 



Rape as put 



in the silo, 



Oct. G, 1903. 



p.c 



86 

 1 

 



05 

 91 

 16 

 11 

 33 

 44 



3f> 

 61 



Rape and 

 Rape Com Ensil- 

 Ensilage, 'age, I Rape, 

 Mar. 18, '04. i Corn, 



Mar. IS, '04. 



p.c. 



78 19 

 2-67 

 0-84 



12-93 

 2 00 



O 0( 



1-36 

 1-31 



p.c. 



79 66 



218 

 37 

 10-40 

 5-29 

 2 10 



104 

 1-14 



First, comparing rape with rape ensilage, we notice that ensiling the crop has 

 resulted in a large loss of water, increasing the percentage of total dry matter from 

 l-j'95 to 21*81. Weight for weight, then, we should expect the rape ensilage to have 

 a considerably higher feeding value. This, of course, is not to be interpreted as mean- 

 ing that the rape increases in value in the silo, that a given weight of green rai)e gives 

 an equal weight of ensilage with an increased percentage of dry matter, for such 13 

 not the case. The fermentation that ensues in the silo necessarily means loss in cer- 

 tain of the nutrients (especially the carbo-hydrates); this is true of all ensiled crops. 

 But comparing equal weights of green rape and rape ensilage, the latter is the much 

 more valuable. This will be further apparent by continuing the comparison of the 

 two analyses. In crude protein the ensilage is considerably the richer. This gain, 



*For an account of the food value of this crop, see the article, ' The Chemistry of Rape.' 

 in report ot this Division for IDOO. Bulletia No. 42 (Experimental Farm Series) furnishes 

 information respecting its culture and use. 



