FEPOnT OF THE CHEMIST 



179 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The first noticeable feature is the much smaller percentage of dry matter in the 

 ensilage from the middle of the silo — the sample being taken in the centre, seven feet 

 from the bottom — than in the clover or the ensilage from the floor of the silo. This 

 points to a greater degree of fermentation and consequently greater loss of feeding 

 elements in the centre than at the bottom of the silo. Weight for weight, this ensilage 

 is not of an equal feeding value with clover. It is evident that the greater deteriora- 

 tion in the centre and upper part of the silo is due to the larger amount of air present, 

 and this fact points to the value of deep silos and the packing firmly of the material. 

 The loss has taken place both in the crude protein and carbo-hydrates (starch, sugar, 

 gums, &c). The crude protein consists of the albuminoids and non-albuminoid 

 compounds (amides), and while there has been some loss in the total nitrogen, the 

 breaking down of the former and formation of the latter explains chiefly the deteriora- 

 tion. 



This has reference principally to the ensilage from the middle of the silo. The fat 

 or ether extract has increased, but this is more apparent than real, for certain organic 

 acids that are developed during the fermentation are unavoidably, by the process of 

 analysis, determined with the fat. 



Table II. — Analysis of Clover before and after Ensiling. 

 (Results on the water-free substance.) 



Constituents. 



Crude protein (nitrogen x 6 '23) 



Fat (ether extract) 



Carbohydrates (starch, sugar, etc.) 



Fibre , 



Ash 



Nitrogenous compounds — 



Albuminoids 



Non-albuminoids 



Clover 

 as put in the 



Silo 

 Aug. 31, 1900. 



15 19 



•64 



3374 



4127 



916 



12 25 

 2 94 



Clover 

 Ensilage from 

 centre of Silo 

 Feb. 4, 1901. 



16 94 

 101 

 25 46 

 45 89 

 10 70 



925 

 769 



Clover 

 Ensilage from 

 bottom of Silo 

 April 11, 1901. 



13 44 

 •95 

 28-58 

 46 11 

 10 92 



944 



400 



Table II. allows us to compare closely the composition of the dry matter of the 

 three samples, and furnishes much interesting information. While the crude protein 

 has increased, demonstrating that the greater loss has been in the carbo-hydrates, the 

 data for which confirm this statement, it is plain from the figures at the bottom of the 

 table that there has been a marked decrease of the albuminoid and an increase of the 

 non-albuminoid nitrogenous compounds. This, means a falling off in feeding value. 

 There has been an increase in the fibre, ash constituents and ether-extract — the latter 

 due to the development of organic acids. 



These results are in close accord with those of other investigators. It is, 

 however, probable they are more marked than if there had been a larger mas3 of en- 

 silage. They certainly support the rules laid down for successfully ensiling clover, 

 and indicate the desirability of large, deep silos, and of excluding air as far as possible 

 by close packing of the material. By these means, fermentation will bs largely con- 

 trolled and excessive losses prevented. 



16—12* 



