276 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. x, No.e 



silage cutter. Some of the alfalfa was ground in a large power sausage 

 mill after first being put through the feed cutter. Water was added to 

 these bottles to test the influence of more moisture. The prepared 

 material was compressed in the milk bottles by means of a broom handle, 

 which made a fairly tight packing. Each bottle contained about lyi 

 pounds of material. No attempt was made in this trial to get exactly 

 the same amount in each bottle. After packing, the mouth was closed 

 with an ordinary cork, which was made fast by wiring with copper wire 

 and sealed with wax such as is used in sealing desiccators.^ In most of 

 the bottles, as soon as fermentation began, the cork would be pushed 

 out sufficiently to allow the escape of the accumulated gas. The bottles 

 had to be rewired several times. After about two weeks the bottles 

 would stay wired and sealed. These bottles were filled on May 2, 191 3, 

 and were opened on January 2, 191 4. 



QUALITY OF SILAGE PRODUCED 



When the bottles were opened, the materials were examined by several 

 persons. Of the 23 bottles, 5 contained silage that was good, and 2 very 

 good. The silage in these two consisted of alfalfa alone ground very fine, 

 the only difference between the two being that the alfalfa in one con- 

 tained more moisture than that in the other. All of the bottles which 

 contained corn as a part of the mixture graded good. Eight of the 

 bottles graded fair, five bad, and only one very bad. Seven of those that 

 graded fair contained rye as a part of the mixture. But for the strong 

 odor of the rye this silage would have graded good. Rye alone, alfalfa 

 alone cut in the feed cutter, rye and alfalfa with the addition of water, 

 and alfalfa alone plus water all made bad or very bad silage. The addi- 

 tion of water was harmful in all cases this year. In later trials this was 

 not the case. After examination and sampling for analysis, portions of 

 the different kinds were offered to dairy cows. The good and very good 

 were readily eaten. That which graded fair was partially or indifferently 

 eaten. 



MOISTURE AND ACIDITY 



Five of the bottles which had bad and very bad silage had a moisture 

 content above 75 per cent, while the only bottles of bad silage with a low 

 moisture content were those containing rye alone. A too high or too low 

 water content did not produce good silage. All but one of the bad and 

 very bad bottles of silage had a low percentage of acidity, the only excep- 

 tion being the mixture of alfalfa, rye, and water. All the bottles of silage 

 which graded good had a high percentage of acidity. 



> This wax is a mixture of 70 parts, by weight, of beeswax, 15 parts of Venice turpentine, and 15 parts of 

 vaseline. 



