A. A.MOS AXI) H. E. WooD.MAN oo5> 



thermometer encased within a piece of iron gas piping for protection. 

 ]3abcock and Russell ^ have shown that such fermentations as produce 

 increase of temperature in the silo take place very rapidly and that the 

 maximum temperature is generally reached within four or five days. 

 The use of a maximum thermometer therefore gives a useful indication 

 of the vigour of the fermentation, jjrovided the heat is not rapidly lost 

 by conduction. 



The results upon opening proved that good silage was capable of 

 being made in these small silos, and in two out of the three cases the silage 

 differed very slightly, if at all, from that produced commercially; more- 

 over, the wa.stage due to spoilt material at the top compared favourably 

 with that of commercial practice, and in the case of silage made from 

 freshly-cut, succulent crop, the amount of spoilt nuiterial on top measured 

 only i in. in thickness. 



Object of the Experime^t.s. 



The purpose of the present investigation was two-fold; firstly to 

 determine the effect of varying the moisture content, both by the wilting 

 of the crop after cutting and by allowing rain to fall upon the crop in 

 the field, upon the quality of the silage produced, and so to ascertain how 

 far this factor influences the producing of different types of silage; and 

 secondly to ascertain the nature and magnitude of the chemical changes 

 which occur when these different types of silage are made and to obtain 

 a comparison of the fermentation losses involved in each case, as well 

 as any benefits which may accrue from such fermentation. Further 

 details of the chemical objects of the experiment are given later. 



Description of Crop. 



The crop utilised for the experiment was autumn-sown and was 

 seeded at the rate of If bushels of tares and I5 bushels of grey winter 

 oats per acre. In the dry summer of 1921 there was approximately 

 equal growth of oats and tares at time of cutting, but no separation 

 of the crop was made. The crop used for the samples was cut at recorded 

 times between June 21st and 23rd, at which time the maturity of the 

 crop was perhaps ideal for making hay, but would generally be considered 

 slightly immature for silage. The oats were then well past flower, 

 some being in milk, others having not quite reached this stage; the tares 



^ Babcock and Russell, llth anrt lS//( Annual Report, Wisconsin AgriciiUnral Experi- 

 ment illation. 



Joum. of Agrio. Soi. xii 23 



