3r{8 (}(il 1111(1 Tare SUdijc 



years progress was limited by the failure of some of the methods of 

 investigatiou. In the first season high grade linen bags, such as are 

 used by seedsmen in distributing seeds, were used as containers, but 

 proved defective because the fabric perished as a result of the fer- 

 mentation in the silo. Next fine-meshed galvanised wire netting was 

 tried, but though in the first year the juices of the silage produced 

 no effect upon this nuiterial, in subsequent years this was not the case 

 and consequently accurate weighing of the contained sample became 

 impossible. In the experiments now to be described, loosely woven jute 

 bags, made of the same material as commonly employed for chaff bags, 

 were used, and this has proved perfectly suitable. During this pre- 

 liminary period certain progress was made in chemical methods which 

 have been of use in the present investigation. It has, however, been 

 thought undesirable to publish the earlier results in detail because of 

 the uncertainties above mentioned. 



Saiii|)les of silage described in this ])a])er were made in two cases 

 from the commercial silo used on tiie Plant Breeding Farm at Cambridge; 

 in the remainder from three small wooden cylindrical silos, measuring 

 6 ft. high and 4 ft. in diameter, which have given highly satisfactory 

 experimental results. In some measure experimental silos of this size 

 constitute a new departure; they are free from the objection commonly 

 used again.st bottles of silage, that the bulk- under ex])eriment is so small 

 that any rise in temperature is immediately dissipated, and yet they 

 enable the experimenter to vary at will one factor only, a condition which 

 is difficult indeed to accomphsh by varying tiie jHisition of the sample 

 bags in a large commercial silo. 



These small silos were constructed of I in. boards, tongued and 

 grooved and kept tightly pressed together by three circular iron hoops 

 which were capable of being easily tightened by suitable screws. The 

 wood was of plain deal, tarred externally for purposes of preservation. 

 The silos were placed in a shady .situation and the floor of each con- 

 sisted of j)uddied gault clay. At the time of filling metal extensions 

 i ft. high made of iron sheeting were fitted to the top of each silo. 



The sample bags, as previously stated, consisted of loosely woven 

 jute, measuring 3 ft. (J in. long by '1 ft. in breadth; these contained 

 about 2 cwt. of green fodder under average conditions of wetness. When 

 filled with fodder these dimensions were considerably contracted, so that 

 in no case were they within 6 ins. of the walls of the silo when placed 

 in position. 



Immediately beneath each sam})le bag was placed a maximum 



