460 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Considering together the last three tables, it is to be noted that the 

 greatest loss of dry matter occurred with the silage cat at the latest 

 date, September 15. The crop was at that time very dry and getting 

 fully ripe. This fact may partly account for the excessive loss, and may 

 indicate that the corn should be cut before so ripe as to contain too 

 little moisture to bring about the proper fermentation. However, the 

 losses of original substance and of dry matter were greater with the sam- 

 ples of silage stored in the upper halves of the two small silos than 

 with the silage stored in the lower halves. There was a greater oxidation 

 at the top of the silo, more of the silage had darkened by exposure to 

 the air, and there was a descent of the juices from the upper half to the 

 lower half of each silo. It is questionable, therefore, whether the varia- 

 tions in the per cent of loss of dry matter are to be attributed to the 

 difference in ripeness of the corn when cut. Although there seems to 

 be an increase of loss as the corn approaches maturity, it seems certain 

 that a good share of this increment is to be ascribed to the less favorable 

 conditions in the silo. 



There is in every case a very noticeable change in the nitrogen from 

 the albuminoid to the amide form. This change in the nitrogen seems 

 to be a necessary concomitant of this method of storing corn. There is, 

 moreover, a loss of total nitrogen as is shown by the per cent of loss of 

 protein, which is the total nitrogen multiplied by 6.25. This loss varies 

 from 2.76 per cent in the corn cut August 25 to 23.65 per cent with the 

 corn cut September 15. The greatest loss of protein is with the corn 

 nearly ripe. The per cent of water in this corn was 65.14, too low evi- 

 dently to secure the proper changes in the silo and to prevent excessive- 

 losses. 



There were no regular variations in the losses of nitrogen-free extract 

 that could be ascribed to the condition of the corn when put in the silo. 

 The greatest loss occurred with the corn cut August 25, and the losses 

 were substantially equal with the two samples cut in September. The 

 changes in fat content cannot be correctly interpreted because the com- 

 position of the substances extracted by the ether from freshly cut corn 

 is very different from the ether extracts of the silage. 



It does not appear, then, that there is any greater or less loss in the 

 silo with later than with earlier cut corn. To secure from a field of 

 corn the greatest yield of dry matter, of protein and of carbo-hydrates 

 generally, the crop must be harvested when the ears are glazed, but 

 before the stalks are dried out by drouth. 



In the fall of 1889, an experiment was carried on at this Station to 

 study the increase in dry matter made by a crop of corn from time to 

 time after the ears had fairly begun to silk up to full ripeness. Samples 

 of corn were cut as seven successive intervals of six days each, begin- 

 ning August 10. 



Two square rods were harvested at each date, the corn run through 

 a fodder cutter and cut into half inch lengths and stored in an oak cask 

 provided with a tight cover which was forced down by a strong screw 

 and securely fastened. The gradual increase in dry matter as the corn 

 matured is shown in the next table: 



Note the steady increase in dry matter yielded per acre as the corn 

 matures. Note at the same time the decrease in the loss of dry matter 

 in the silo. 



