167 



:it tho Station, four boinj>; HIKmI with corn. Iron tubes wore placed 

 in the sihifi'e so that the temperature at dift'ei-ent (lei)ths couhl be 

 measured by thermometers. Tlie acidity of the silaov was determined 

 by analysis. No (h'Hnite i-ehition was found between the acidity and 

 the temjHM'ature. Silap' of iiiuii deii'ree of acicHty and offensive odor 

 was formed whei'e the temperature rani2;ed as Iiigh as 150° F., while 

 sweet sihi^e of fine (|uality with very slight acidity has l)een made 

 when tlie temperature has not risen above 80° F. In the experience 

 of the Station, sweetei- and l»etter sila<>e has been made from year to 

 year. The arain has been put in when more and more mature, and 

 hence containint>- less and less water. I'his observation suggests tliat 

 small water content is favoral)le to the production of SAveet silage. 

 '• Examination of the analyses of silage received from various silos in 

 the State, as well as our own, would seem to indi(;ate that the acidity 

 varies with the amount of water present in the grain; the more water, 

 the greater the per cent of acid." A table of analyses enforces this 

 ])roposition in a very striking manner. In these figures we read a 

 strong argument in favor of mature and well-grown fodder corn for 

 the silo. •' If this theory is correct, sweet silage then depends upon 

 maturity of the corn and the exclusion of air rather than upon any 

 })articular variety of corn or method of filling." 



O podng the silo. — The silo should remain closed until the maxi- 

 mum heat has been attained and the temperature has been consider- 

 ably reduced. In general, it is not advisal)le to open a silo within 

 one month after filling. 



Feeding rations. — Silage should not l)e fed exclusively. Like corn, 

 it is " not a perfect food," but nnpures other materials rich in nitro- 

 gen to be fed with it in order to obtain the best results. To show in 

 what proportions other feeding stutfs may be properly fed to cows 

 with the silage, mixtures of bran, malt sprouts, brewers' grains, oil 

 meal, corn meal, oats, clover hay, and straw are given in a table. 

 AVith these " ])artial rations," 40 or more pounds a day of silage, made 

 from well-matured, well-eared corn, are to be fed. The practice of 

 ])utting layers of straw between those of corn silage in the silo is con- 

 demned. Clover is strongly recommended for silage. It should be 

 cut when quite matui-e and when the dew is off. It does not need to 

 be put through a c-utting nuichine, so that the expense of filling the 

 silo with this crop is very light. 



