453 



The amount of rainfall and «now during the fall and winter of 

 1889-90 was small, thus favorin<j^ the curinj^- of fodder. The losses of 

 nutrients in the fodder are, therefore, probably below the average. In 

 the case of the sweet fodder corn shocked in the corn crib the loss of dry 

 matter was 8.3, and of protein 13.7 per cent ; shocks of the same variety 

 left in the field showed a loss of 15.6 per cent of dry matter and 23.7 

 per cent of protein. 



The highest losses coino, as would be naturally expected, where husked fodder is 

 shocked. Stowell's Evergreeu, as an average of the results with ten shocks, gave a 

 loss of 33.9 i>er cent of dry matter, aud 2i).2 per cent of protein. Pride of the 

 North, lot B, gave 13.1) per cent loss of dry matter and 1((.3 per cent of protein 

 against 20.6 per cent and 13.7 per cent of dry matter aud ]»rotein, respectively, 

 where the shocks were husked. Another point is noticeable: where unhusked 

 fodder is shocked the loss in per cent of protein exceeds that of dry matter, except 

 in the case of Southern corn, where the proportion of nutriments in the ears, if there 

 be any, with us is very small compared with what is in the leaves and stalks; where 

 husked fodder is shocked the loss of dry matter exceeds that of protein. This might 

 be inferred from the fact that the ears are made up largely, from non-nitrogenous 

 bodies, especially starch, which it is not likely to suppose will be as easily subject to 

 fermentation processes as the constituents of the stalks and leaves, being better 

 protected than these. 



The results found in regard to losses in field curing of Indian corn show conclu- 

 sively that fodder corn in curing and being shocked is constantly deteriorating in 

 nutritive value, in a similar way as has been found in case of the ensiling process. 

 The amount of this loss will vary more with shocked corn than wilh ensiled corn, 

 for the reason that with the corn in the silo we have all conditions more under o'.ir 

 control, and are independent of the changes of the season. 



The results of these experiments in 1889 and of these and similar 

 experiments for 3 years are summarized in tables. 



Tabulating the results obtained at this station during the last 3 years in regard 

 to the losses of dry matter and i^rotein in the ensiling and field curing methods of 

 preserving Indian corn, we have the following summary : 



I'otal quantities of ensiled and shocked fodder corn. 



While the average losses of dry matter in the ensiling and in the field-curing system 

 have thus been found to be very nearly the same, the loss of protein is lower in the 

 latter system. The loss of food materials in either system is very considerable, and 

 shows that we are unable to preserve our fodders by any method now known without 

 their deteriorating in value. » » » 



The problem of the proper method of preserving fodder corn then is narrowed down 

 to this: In the fodder corn as it is cut in the fall there is a certain quantity of food 

 elements that may be preserved in a succulent state in the silo or cured and fed to 



