172 



EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



however, is more apparent than real, for by refeijence to the percentage of albuminoids 

 • — the part of the crude protein which has by far the greater feeding value — it is seen 

 that it is practically identical with that of the rape. From this fact we may infer 

 that in muscle-forming constituents the rape and its ensilage are of about the same 

 value. 



In carbo-hydrates (starcli, &c.) — ^lieat-producing constituents — the ensilage con- 

 tains about one-third more, and it is in this, principally, that the greater feeding 

 value of the ensilage lies. The fibre is almost the same in both. In fat the ensilage 

 is higher, making it the more valuable. Lastly, as regards ash or mineral matter, the 

 percentage in the ensilage is almost three times that in the fresh material. This 

 does not arise, of course, from any creation of asb, but from the disappearance through 

 decomposition of the organic constituents, leaving a higher percentage of the mineral 

 matter. 



The comparison of the rape ensilage with the rape and corn ensilage makes clear, 

 from the chemical standpoint, the superiority of the former. In all the more valuable 

 nutrients the rape ensilage is the richer; in fibre — the constituent of least value — the 

 presence of the com increases the amount in the mixed ensilage. 



The average composition of corn ensilage may now be given for the purpose of 

 comparison with the foregoing analysis of the rape and mixed ensilage. 



Analysis of Corn Ensilage. 



Water V9*l 



Crude protein 1'7 



Fat '8 



Carbo-hydrate? ll'O 



Fibre 6*0 



Ash 1*4 



lOO'OO 

 The corn ensilage, it is evident, is less valuable than either rape ensilage or that 

 from rape and corn, in that it contains less crude protein. The difference is, of 

 course, more marked between the rape ensilage and com ensilage than between that 

 of the mixed crops and the ensiled com, but the difference is one of degree rather than 

 of kind — -the addition of corn increases proportionately the percentage of fibre while 

 reducing that of the crude protein in the product. To sum up these considerations, 

 there seems no doubt but that in both the rape and mixed ensilages we have a succu- 

 lent feed of a more nutritious character than in an ensilage from com alone, and this 

 chiefly by reason of the nitrogenous character of rape and its low fibre content. 



A consideration of the data calculated on a water-free basis, in other words, of 

 the composition of the dry matter of the several materials, throws seme light upon 

 the nature and direction of tlie changes that talve place on ensiling the rape. 



'Rape, Rape Ensilage, Eape and Com Ensilage. (Results on the water -free substance.) 



Constituents. 



Rape 



as put in the 



silo. 



Cnule protein 



Fat 



Carbo-hj^drates 



ribre 



Ash 



Nitrogenous, compounds 



Albuminoids 



Non-albuminoids 



p.c. 



13-72 

 114 



58-14 

 16 70 

 10 30 



9-35 

 4-37 



Rape 

 Ensilage. 



p.c 



12 



3 



49 



19 



15 



6 

 6 



Rape and 

 Corn Ensil- 

 age, h Rape 

 4 Corn. 



80 

 27 

 18 

 44 



22 

 03 



p.c. 



10-75 

 1-84 

 51 05 

 26 02 

 10 34 



510 

 5-65 



