iy8 Journal of Agricultural Research voi.xix, N0.4 



The Lintner method gave almost identical duplicates even when these 

 were run on different days. The variations in the percentages of starch 

 are within 1.23 per cent and are such that no decrease or synthesis of 

 starch is indicated. The lack of consistency in the variations and their 

 correlation with the other fermentation changes gives further evidence 

 that starch is not changed. 



SUMMARY 



A study of experimental silage at different stages of fermentation 

 which was normal as regards development of aroma and changes in 

 acidity, alcohol, and sugar content leads to the following conclusions: 



(i) Changes in total acidity, alcohol, and sugar are entirely inde- 

 pendent of the starch content of the ensiled corn and of the silage pro- 

 duced from it. 



(2) The first intermediate products resulting from the decomposition 

 of starch are not present in demonstrable quantities. 



(3) The starch content • remains constant throughout the fermenta- 

 tion process. 



(4) The starch granules remain intact, undergoing no physical change 

 that can be detected by microscopic examination. 



(5) Since starch constitutes about lo per cent of the corn plant at the 

 time of ensiling and represents over 400 calories of available energy 

 per kilogram, the fact that no loss occurs during fermentation is an 

 additional argument in favor of silage as an economical feed. 



LITERATURE CITED 

 (i) Appleman, Charles O. 



1918. RESPIRATION AND CATALASE ACTIVITY IN SWEET CORN. In Amer. JOUT. 



Bot., V. 5, no. 4, p. 207-209. 



(2) Babcock, S. M., and Russell, H. L. 



19OO-1901. CAUSES OPERATIVE IN THE PRODUCTION OF SILAGE- In Wis. AgT. 



Exp. Sta. 17th Ann. Rpt. [i899]/i9oo, p. 123-141, fig. 17, 1900; 

 i8th Ann. Rpt. [igooj/oi, p. 177-184, fig. 44, 1901. 



(3) Bryan, A. Hugh, Given, A., and Straughn, M. N. 



191 1. EXTRACTION OP GRAINS AND CATTLE FOODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF 



SUGARS ... U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Chem. Circ. 71, 14 p. 



(4) Dox, Arthur W., and Lamb, A. R. 



I916. AN ACCLTRATE AERATION METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OP ALCOHOL 

 IN FERMENTATION MIXTURES. In Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, v. 38, no. 

 II, p. 2561-2568. 

 (5) and Neidig, Ray E. 



1912. THE VOLATILE ALIPHATIC ACIDS OP CORN SILAGE. lowa Agr. Exp. Sta. 



Research Bui. 7, 32 p. 

 (6) 



1913. LACTIC ACID IN CORN SILAGE. lowa Agr. Exp. Sta. Research Bui. 10, 



P- 363-378. 4 fig- 

 (7) ESTEN, W. M., and Mason, Christie J. 



1912. SILAGE FERMENTATION. Conn. Storrs Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 70, 40 p. 

 Bibliography, p. 37-40. 



