538 



Journal of Agricultural Research, 



Vol. XX, No. 7 



silage were collected and sent in to the chemistry department of the 

 Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station. 1 



In the fall of 1918, four samples of beet top silage were collected from 

 the southern part of the State by Mr. Rinehart. In 1919, six samples 

 were collected by Mr. Aicher. All samples are representative of the 

 average silage made in Idaho. An approximate analysis was made on 

 each of these samples. In addition volatile and nonvolatile acid deter- 

 minations were made on several of these samples of silage. The results 

 of the approximate analysis are given in Tables I and II. Table I gives 

 the results on the wet basis — that is, on the basis of the original moisture 

 content — and Table II the results on the anhydrous or moisture-free 

 basis. 



Table I. — Analysis of 100 gm. sugar beet fop silage containing moisture 



Sample No. 



3 



4 

 5 

 6 



Moist- 

 ure. 



Per ct. 

 81. s 

 76 

 59 

 80 

 49-5 

 68.5 

 70 

 70 



78.2 

 74-4 



Dry 



mate- 

 rial. 



Per ct. 



18. s 

 24 



21.8 

 25.6 



Total 



residue 



left on 



ignition 



(dirt and 



ash). 



Per cent. 



7.04 

 5-29 

 17.27 

 10.51 

 25-65 

 11.80 

 19. 08 



Dirt. 



Per ct. 

 5- °9 



2.32 

 12. 79 



8.42 

 18.39 



7.09 

 14.46 



9-79 5-13 



14-13 

 12. 22 



11.65 

 8.26 



Ash. 



P. ct, 

 1-95 

 2.97 

 4.48 

 2. 09 

 7. 26 

 4. 71 

 4. 62 

 4-66 

 2.48 

 3- 96 



Pro- 

 tein. 



Per ct. 

 2.18 



4.40 

 1.88 

 6.51 



4-38 

 1.38 



Ether 

 extract. 



Per ct. 

 48 

 8s 

 92 

 48 

 68 

 14 

 53 



Quality 

 of silage. 



Poor. 

 Fair. 

 Poor. 



Do. 



Do. 

 Fair. 

 Poor. 

 Fair. 

 Poor. 



Do. 



Table II. — Analysis of 100 gm. moisture-free sugar beet top silage 



Sample No. 



Carbohy- 

 drates 

 (by dif- 

 ference). 



Per cent. 

 39-37 

 49-45 

 36-51 

 28.50 

 27. 26 

 36.75 

 21.50 

 41-35 

 22-19 

 32.76 



An examination of the results shows that only three of the samples 

 were classed as fair silage. The remaining seven samples were classed as 

 beet top silage of poor quality. A noteworthy fact seen from the inspec- 



•The collecting of the samples was made possible through the kind cooperation of Mr. E. F. Rinehart, 

 Field Animal Husbandryman for Idaho, and Superintendant L,. C. Aicher, of the Aberdeen substation. 

 The writer wishes to thank these men for their careful notations of general conditions and their interest and 

 cooperation in the work. 



