34 Colcor&s System of 



FERMENTATION IN SILOS. 



Chemistry teaches us that fermentation 

 takes place in the following order: first, the 

 saccharine; second, the alcoholic; third, the 

 acetic ; fourth, the lactic ; then a variety of 

 other fermentations, either in quick succession 

 or found to exist at the same time in the same 

 substance. These transformations are accom- 

 panied with heat. At the fourth change, the 

 heat is generally above 86, and germs of 

 bacteria are developed, and we have true fer- 

 mentation, with continued evolution of Car- 

 bonic and Acetic Acids, in connection with a 

 variety of putrid fermentations. These con- 

 tinue with rapid decomposition and recomposi- 

 tion, with increasing heat, until the mass goes 

 to destruction, more or less quickly. 



In silos, these germs of bacteria are sup- 

 posed to get into the silos with the air, at the 

 time of filling. They develop very rapidly, 

 and multiply indefinitely, by subdivision. The 

 germs will germinate into living activity at 86 

 of heat, and will germinate after exposure to 

 a heat of 212 for some hours; but the devel- 

 oped bacteria will be killed at a temperature 

 as low as 122. Bacteria live upon oxygen, 



