THE PREPARATION OF FARM PRODUCTS. 305 



normally carried on. Sometimes bacteria do have an ef- 

 fect upon the silage. Putrefactive bacteria may get an op- 

 portunity to grow and produce an abnormal fermentation, 

 resulting in ruin to the product. The proper formation of 

 silage would seem, according to present knowledge, to be 

 based rather upon preventing the presence and growth of bac- 

 teria than upon stimulating it. How this bacterial growth is 

 prevented we do not know. The material packed in the silo 

 has plenty of bacteria within it and plenty of moisture. How 

 the fermentation which occurs is able to prevent the growth of 

 these bacteria and of the consequent putrefaction of the silage, 

 cannot at present be stated. 



It must finally be noted that the process, as it is thus de- 

 scribed, is perhaps not properly to be regarded as a fermenta- 

 tion. It is not due to enzymes nor to microorganisms, but is 

 simply the continuation of the ordinary protoplasmic activities 

 of the plant cells, under the peculiar conditions of the silo. 

 Although the process seems similar, and, in some respects the 

 results are the same, the causes of the changes are wholly dif- 

 ferent from those which we have regarded as the causes of fer- 

 mentation. If enzymes are produced the phenomenon may be 

 regarded as in part a true fermentation ; but if the causes above 

 mentioned are the chief ones silage formation is not a true fer- 

 mentation. 



SOUR FODDER. 



A second method of preparing succulent vegetable material 

 is sometimes employed, in order to make use of certain waste 

 materials from different industries. The materials most com- 

 monly utilized in this way are exhausted slices of beet root 

 from sugar factories, potatoes previously steamed, frozen sugar 

 beets, corn stalks, etc. These materials would commonly be 

 wasted or used only as fuel, and any plan which can utilize 

 them as food, by preserving them in a good condition for 

 months, is a decided saving. A method adopted for this pur- 

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