374 



The results of the experiment are summarizefl in the following state- 

 ment, which gives the i^ercentage of each ingredient of the cooked and 

 uncooked silage found to be digested. 



Co-i'fficicnis of digestihiJity. 



Cooked silage 



tjucooked silage 



Cnido 

 pi'oteiu. 



per cent. 

 39.43 

 45.41 



Crude 

 lat. 



per cent. 

 87.24 

 8G. 11 



Crude 

 fiber. 



per cent. 

 70.33 

 59.19 



Crude 

 ash. 



per cent. 

 80. 9G 

 31.98 



Nitrojten-free 

 extract. 



X)er cent. 

 74.75 

 71. OC 



Comparative determinations of the amount of sugar dissolved out 

 from cooked and uncooked silage by standing in cold water about 

 twelve hours showed 3.69 per cent of glucose in the dry matter of the 

 cooked, and 1.8G per cent in that of the uncooked material. 



The effect of the cooking of silage as indicated by these observations 

 was: "(1) to decrease the digestibility of the nitrogenous substances r, 

 (2) to increase the digestibility of crude fiber ; (3) to increase the digest- 

 ibility of nitrogen-free extract ; (4) to increase the digestibility of fat ; 

 (5) to increase the amount of sugar contained in the silage." 



Ethyl aleoholin silage. — About 500 grains of silage were distilled, the 

 distillate neutralized, redistilled, and tinally subjected to fractional 

 distillation. The characteristic odor of beuzo-ethylester with benzoyl- 

 chloride, and the iodiform reaction, were observed in the portion sepa- 

 rated at 05° 0. Tiie author concludes that "alcoholic fermentation 

 takes place in the silo, by which ethyl alcohol is formed." 



Economic zoology, F. L. Washbitun, B. A. (pp.lO-lG). — A circular 

 asking information regarding benefits and injuries by birds and mam- 

 mals in Oregon is given as sent out by the station, together with a tab- 

 ulated summary of replies from twenty-three persons. 



Rhode Island Station, Bulletin No. 8, September, 1890 (pp. 30). 



Soils and fertilizers, H. J. Wheeler, Ph. D. (pp. 07-98).— 

 Popular discussions on the following subjects : Soils, their origin, an- 

 alysis, and renovation ; agricultural chemicals and their use; commercial 

 valuation of fertilizers, together with analyses of fertilizing materials, 

 taken from the Seventh Annual Eeport of the Massachusetts State 

 Station ; and composition of potash and magnesia salts which are of 

 agricultural importance, taken from the publications of the Stassfurt 

 Potash Syndicate, Germany. 



South Dakota Station, Second Annual Report, 1889 (pp. 56). 



Report of director, L. McLouth, Ph. D. (pp. 5-12). — Brief 

 statements regarding the history, organization, and work of the station, 

 and a financial report for the year ending June 30, 1889. 



