DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY. 



297 



and dry matter at each cutting, and a quantity of the cut stalks was rapidly 

 dried and saved for subsequent analysis. 



The field of corn assigned for this investigation was planted with Burrill 

 & Whitman's ensilage dent corn ; planted in drills 3 feet 9 inches apart and 

 one stalk on the average to every 10 inches in the row. The corn was choked 

 for want of air space, and in central parts of the field formed few ears, and 

 those poorly developed. The first cutting was on the 25th of August, the 

 stalks being left in small bundles to wilt till the 27th, when the stalks were 

 cut by a Champion hand cutter into pieces three-quarters of an inch long. 

 A quantity of fresh stalks was secured on the 27th and cut in the same way, 

 the wilted stalks being entered on the table as No. 1 and the fresh stalks as 

 No. 2. 



The cut material was immediately placed in small silos, pressed down 

 firmly, and finally compressed by a strong screw and securely fastened. The 

 silos were strong oak casks, with sides nearly straight, and strongly bound 

 with iron hoops. A tightly fitting head completed the silo. The head was 

 forced down by a strong screw, an " apple heading press " being used for the 

 purpose. At intervals of one or two weeks the heads were screwed down as 

 far as possible, and then fastened by cleats nailed on the inside of the cask. 

 These silos answered the purpose very satisfactorily ; a little mildew and 

 decomposition at the surface, but the interior in excellent condition when 

 opened in January, the silage having a pleasant odor of acetic ether and an 

 agreeable taste. 



No. 3 was cut for wilting September 1 and No. 4 was cut September 3, and 

 both placed in the silo September 3. Nos. 5 and 6 were treated in the same 

 way, September 8 and 10. On September 13 there was such strong indica- 

 tions of frost that No. 7 was gathered and placed in the silo at once. A 

 killing frost on the morning of September 14 put an end to this part of the 

 experiment. 



The following table exhibits the percentage of dry matter in the wilted 

 stalks, fresh stalks, and the ensilage made from them : 



Condition of Stalks at time of Ensiling. 



No. 1— Wilted in two days. 



No. 2— Fresh Stalks 



No. 3— Wilted two days... 



No. 4— Fresh Stalks 



No. 5— Wilted two days... 



No. 6-Fresh Stalks 



No. 7— Fresh Stalks 



Corn Stalks. 



22.00 

 17.25 

 27.60 

 31.70 

 27.00 

 21.98 

 21.96 



Ensilage. 



19.00 

 16.00 

 23.30 

 16.25 

 21.32 

 18.60 

 19.72 



Day of 

 Cutting. 



Aug. 25 

 Aug. 27 

 Sept. 1 

 Sept. 3 

 Sept. 8 

 Sept. 10 

 Sept. 13 



The loss of dry matter in the process of ensiling, an average of 16 per cent, 

 will attract attention. 



