REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 183 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The fat is apparently higher in the ensilage, but as organic acids, as already ex- 

 plained, are by the process of analysis estimated with the fat, this gain is more appar- 

 ent than real. 



There is a difference of about 3 per cent of carbo-hydrates in favour of the corn. 



The fibre has increased by ensiling to an extent of about 5 per cent. This, of 

 course, does not mean that there has been any development of fibre, but that other 

 nutrients have disappeared, necessarily increasing the proportion of this constituent 

 in the dry matter. 



Top of Silo. — We notice, first, a reduction of 2 per cent of crude protein by en- 

 siling. Examining more closely into its character it will be seen that in the corn (F) 

 84. per cent of its nitrogen exists as albuminoids,* whereas in the ensilage (G) this was 

 reduced to 65 per cent. By comparing these data with those stated for the ensilage at 

 the bottom and in the middle of the silo, it will be noted that the conversion of the al- 

 buminoids, and hence the reduction in food value, has not apparently been so great in 

 the upper part of the silo. At all events, we can say that the ensilage in the latter 

 contains a larger proportion of albuminoids than that in the lower portions of the silo. 



Again, the apparent gain in fat is to be observed. 



The dry matter of the ensilage shows about 8 per cent less carbo-hydrates than the 

 dry matter of the corn as put into the silo, showing that fermentative changes have 

 been active. 



The fibre, the least of all the nutrients to be effected by ensiling, as in the in- 

 stances already discussed, has been increased in the sample by about 7 per cent. This 

 results chiefly from destruction of the carbo-hydrates. 



In considering the foregoing deductions from this research it should be borne in 

 mind that the corn as put into the silo was less mature than usual. The season of 

 1900 was not so favourable for maturing this fodder crop, as, for instance, that of the 

 present year, when the corn as cut contained approximately 22 per cent of dry matter. 

 This fact of the larger percentage of water in the crop of 1900 (the one under consider- 

 ation) no doubt accounts in a large measure for the extent to which deterioration had 

 taken place in the food value of the ensilage. It has been well established that mature 

 corn, that is corn that has come to the glazing condition, yields ensilage of a greater 

 feeding value than corn siloed when less mature. The destructive changes we have 

 noted are largely accelerated by the great percentage of moisture in immature corn. 



Further, it must be remembered that we have been considering the values of the 

 corn and resulting ensilage compared, weight for weight. Our data do not allow us to 

 make any inferences as to the total loss of nutrients that may have occurred in the silo. 



THE GRASS PEA (Lathy rus salivus). 



In the early part of the present year a request was received from Mr. W. J. Gerald, 

 Deputy Minister of Inland Revenue, Ottawa, asking us to investigate the correctness 

 of the statement that the grass pea possessed poisonous qualities and could not be fed 

 with impunity. This pea, or rather vetch, is now being somewhat extensively grown 

 in certain districts of Ontario, owing to its prolific character and alleged immunity to 

 the attacks of the pea weevil. It has thus found its way, perhaps to the extent of 2 

 per cent or thereabouts, into the peas exported to England, from whence the objection 

 above referred to came. 



It is the grain of this plant that, according to many learned authorities, causes 

 the disease known as lathyrismus, a form of paralysis, which occurs in India when, in 

 times of famine, large numbers of the natives are obliged to live upon it, practically, 



•In the com samples A and D this percentage was approximately SO. The larger 

 proportion in the corn (F) is due to the more mature condition of the plant when cut — some 

 twelve days later than A and D. 



