.lOMALOFAGRICDlTDRAlESMCH 



Vol. X Washington, D. C, August 6, 1917 No. 6 



CHEMICAL STUDIES IN MAKING ALFALFA SILAGE 



By C. O. SwANSON, Associate Chemist, and E. L. Tague/ Assistant Chemist, Depart- 

 ment of Chemistry, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station 



INTRODUCTION 



This paper is a preliminary report on chemical studies in making 

 alfalfa silage. The complete report will appear as a publication of the 

 Kansas Experiment Station. There were two phases of these experiments : 

 One phase was conducted by the Department of Chemistry with quart 

 milk bottles as containers for the silage. The other phase was conducted 

 with seven lo-ton experimental silos in cooperation with the Depart- 

 ments of Bacteriology and Dairy Husbandry, ^ the latter of which built 

 and owns the experimental silos. The first phase of the work was begun 

 in 1 91 2 and continued for four years. The second phase of the work 

 was begun in 1914 and was continued in 1915. In this paper will be 

 given briefly the work of the first three years, followed by a more de- 

 tailed statement of both phases of the work for 191 5. 



PART I.— EXPERIMENTS WITH ALFALFA SILAGE MADE IN QUART 



MILK BOTTLES 



PRELIMINARY TRIALS IN I912 AND I913 



In 1 91 2 only a few preliminary trials were made, but they showed 

 the possibility of success in making silage from alfalfa if the right 

 conditions are discovered. In*f9i3, 23 bottles were filled, some with 

 alfalfa alone and some with alfalfa plus accessory materials. These 

 materials were corn chop and rye, of which different proportions were 

 used. Some of the alfalfa was merely put through the feed cutter, 

 which made a somewhat finer material than is obtained from the ordinary 



• other men in the Department of Chemistry who have been associated with this work are: J. W. Calvin, 

 formerly Assistant Chemist, but now with the University of Nebraska; J. C. Summers, formerly Assistant 

 Chemist, but now with the Operative Miller; J. H. Young, formerly a graduate student, now with Ohio 

 State University, and F. A. Gougler, formerly a graduate student, now County Agent, Johnson County, 

 Missouri. 



' The authors wish to express their appreciation of the helpful cooperation from Professors O. E. Reed 

 and J. B. Fitch, of the Department of Dairy Husbandry, and Professors h. D. Bushnell and O.W. Hunter, 

 of the Department of Bacteriology. Acknowledgments are also due President H. J. Waters and Dean 

 J. T. Willard for valuable suggestions. 



Journal of Agricultural Research. Vol. X, No. 6 



Washington, D. C. Aug. 6. 1917 



ix (275) Key No. Kans.' 



