359 



The ash In corn and in the silage shows a steady decrease with the increased age of 

 the plant, as we would naturally expect. The crude fiber is quite uniform in the 

 corn stalks, but in the sil^e there is a steady decrease from 29.41 per cent to 22.9S, 

 showing that with the ripened stalks in the .silo a larger amount of the crude fiber is 

 made digestible and assimilable by the animal. The ether extract is increased nearly 

 75 per cent in the silo. * * » The changes in the percent of nitrogen-free extr.act 

 seem small. But when we take into account the large increase of solid matter as 

 growth proceeds we see the significance of these changes. Thus the 49.04 per cent of 

 the nitrogen-free matter in the first cutting of corn represents only 1,310 pounds to 

 the acre, while the 57.02 at the last cutting represents 2,576 pounds; in the silo the 

 45.68 per cent of the nitrogen-free matter of the first cutting represents only 876 

 pounds, while the 58.65 per cent of the seventh cutting represents 2,587 pounds of 

 carbohydrates. 



In the nitrogenous constituents there is a falling off in the per cent, but an actual 

 increase for the whole product. Thus the 11.43 per cent of albumen in the first cut- 

 ting of the corn represents only 295 pounds of albumen per acre, while the 8.62 per 

 cent of the seventh cutting represents 391 pounds per acre. In the silage there are 

 125 pounds of albumen per acre in the first cutting, and 322 pounds in the seventh 

 cutting. There is an apparent loss of albumen in the silo, a portion being converted 

 into amides, which are inferior to the albuminoids in feeding value. 



Analyses of milk of different breeds. — In the spring of 1890 an experi- 

 ment was begun at the station to test the milk-producing qualities of 

 different breeds. 



The plan required the use of two young cows from each of four representative 

 breeds, of the same age, and whose pedigree and method of feeding were well known ; 

 the cows during the time of experiment to be fed according to a definite plan, and a 

 record kept of the kind and quantity of food consumed; a daily record of the amount 

 of milk given by each cow; a careful cliemical analysis of the milk from each cow 

 two or three times a week; churning the milk from each cow two or three times a 

 •week to determine the churuability of the milk, to estimate the amount and quality 

 of the butter made ; the analysis of this butter and of the buttermilk to determine 

 the completeness with which churning will separate the milk fats by comparison with 

 the fats found in the whole milk — thus affording the data for determining the rela- 

 tive value of representative breeds for the dairy and cheese factory. 



It seemed to these departments that such an investigation carried through an en- 

 tire season, with two cows of each breed to "eliminate the personal equation," when 

 the history of the cows was known and their food made a matter of record, would 

 aft'ord a basis for a safe estimate of the relative value of these breeds as milk pro- 

 ducers. Only three pairs of cows furnished milk for this investigation and these did 

 not all come to milk at the same time. 



The plan proposed was only partially carried out and the experiment 

 was discontinued August 22. The method of gathering samples of 

 milk for analysis and the method of analysis used are described. The 

 results of analyses of milk made at different dates from April IG to 

 August 22 are stated in detail.and summarized in tables. The average 

 composition of the milk of the two cows of each breed is given as fol- 

 lows: 



