324 Tcnipenditn' qff'cctiii;/ the Qiiatif;/ of Silage 



was made by them in .small retainers at temperatures which did not 

 exceed 80°F. = 27°C.; thus, as the authors say, "disproving Fry's 

 theory, that a temperature of at least 120° F. was essential for good 

 silage." 



Many American and other experimenters have obtained similar 

 results, of which may be quoted those of Neidig'. In this case the 

 maximum temperature recorded at the centre as distinct from the top 

 surface of the silo was 91° F. = 33° C, and good silage resulted. 



When in 1917 the authors began to study silage-making in the 

 American type of tower silo, agricultural opinion in England still re- 

 tained the distinction between "sweet"' and "sour" silage which Fry 

 had enunciated and did not realize the possibilities of other types of 

 silage. For this reason, as well as for the fact that silage produced in 

 the experimental silo at Cambridge varied very greatly not only from 

 year to year, but also in different parts of the same silo, it became 

 apparent that, before reliable feeding experiments with silage could be 

 conducted, it was necessary firstly to define the different types of silage 

 w hich were capable of being produced, and secondly to define the con- 

 ditions under which each tyj)e could be produced. 



The observations in this paper are divided into two parts. The first 

 part concerns those made upon silage produced by a large number of 

 silage growers in the Eastern Counties and elsewluTe, from which a few 

 characteristic examples have been described. The second part describes 

 a more accurate series of observations made in the experimental silo at 

 Cambridge. 



In the earlier years the late Mr G. Williams co-operated but his 

 untimely death in 1920 prevented him from helping to complete the 

 work. 



QUAIJTATIVE OBSERVATIONS MADE ON SILAOE PRODUCED BY 

 FARMERS UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. 



1. On farms belonging to Mr .T. Thistleton Smith, Kakenham, 

 Norfolk. 



Mr Thistleton Smith farms light to medium land, u])on which the 

 silage crops generally stand well. The crop mi.xture consists of wheat, 

 oats, and tares, which is allowed to become fairly mature before cutting 

 (the oats being past the milk stage and the tares well seeded). If the 

 crop is succulent it is allowed to wilt a few hours before being ensiled. 



' Neidig. "Chemical Changes in .Silage ferniontation." lowii Agric. Kxp. Utation, 

 Research Bulletin, No. Iti. 



