The Ensilage of Fodders. 



247 



King, studying the subject at the "Wisconsin Station^ with a 

 round sUo, concludes after four years' experience that, omitting 

 the losses found in the top layer and those which may occur at the 

 bottom of the silo, the other losses need not exceed ten per cent, 

 of dry matter for com and eighteen per cent, for red clover. 



387. Character of silo losses. — At the Maine Station, * Jordan 

 ♦ investigated this subject during three years, with the findings 

 presented in the following table: 



Composition of water-free mbstances in green com and silage made 

 therefrom — Maine Station. 



* Dried quickly. t Assumed. 



We learn from the above table that in the process of ensilage 

 the crude fiber of the corn plant is not reduced or changed by the 

 heat and moisture of the silo. The other carbohydrates, consti- 

 tuting as they do the more valuable non-nitrogenous portion of 

 the forage, are diminished percentagely and in total quantity. 

 The ether extract is increased through the formation of lactic 

 acid. We further observe that a considerable portion of the al- 

 buminoid nitrogen in the green forage is changed to amide nitro- 

 gen. This reduction of organic nitrogen from albuminoid to 

 simpler forms has been held to indicate a large loss in the feeding 



1 Bui. 59. 



* Soc. Pro. Agr. Sei., 1884. 



