GREEN FOOD IN SILOS. 167 



From the previous analytical demonstrations it will be 

 quite obvious that the recommendation of the corn ensilage 

 cannot well be based on its higher feeding value, pound for 

 pound, as compared with green-corn fodder. The increased 

 digestibility of the cellular matter in the corn ensilage, and 

 the small, if any, increase of nitrogenous matter, is from a 

 physiological as well as a commercial stand-point, to say the 

 least, a doubtful compensation for the sugar and starch 

 destroyed by the fermentation of the corn-fodder in the silo. 

 An economical and rational feeding of the corn ensilage, as 

 well as the green-corn fodder, requires as a rule, except 

 when fed for a mere sustenance, an addition of a stronger 

 article of food to meet the requirements of either growth, 

 or work, or the production of milk and flesh. The silo sys- 

 tem furnishes no exception to the rule that our practical 

 modes of preserving fodder are accompanied with a loss in 

 quantity and quality of valuable plant constituents, and 

 that any attainable higher feeding value of our fodder-crops 

 is almost invariably secured at the sacrifice of quantity. 

 The question of waste is simply a matter of degree., when 

 comparing existing modes of keeping fodder with that of 

 the silo system. The correctness of the previous exposition 

 once conceded, it remains for me to discuss briefly some of 

 the circumstances which tend to make the introduction of 

 the silo system a valuable addition to our modes of keeping 

 fodder, and thus of increasing our resources for farm 

 improvement. 



The management of the silo system for preserving fodder 

 is independent of the weather, — an advantage of particular 

 importance in the case of juicy plants, so largely represented 

 among our fodder-plants. The long period required for their 

 change into dry fodder, or hay, endangers in a higher degree 

 quantity, and in particular quality, than in the case of com- 

 mon grass. Exposure of green crops to rain, even for a 

 short period, during the hay-making, alters the quality of 

 the hay far more than usually suspected. A few analytical 

 results may convey some more definite idea about the extent 

 of the change. 



