Preserving Green Forage 151 



It is of great advantage and a great satisfac- 

 tion to be able to know just the conditions 

 inside the silo at all times, as the amount of 

 juice gives the pressure wanted as well as the 

 acidity. The temperature informs us as to 

 the fermentation, the ability to examine the 

 gases coming from all parts of the silo, at any 

 time, and to know when they cease and hew 

 they can be controlled. The device we call 

 the governor, because it is intended not only 

 to show the conditions, but govern them. It 

 has always acted to prevent heat and fermen- 

 tation, so that we have never had an opportu- 

 nity to test in stopping and controlling, al- 

 though designed for that purpose also. 



It is also a great advantage to control the 

 pressure at will. The last heavy pressure by 

 the screws gave us acetic acid through the 

 governor, showing no changes beyond, toward 

 decomposition ; and it is to be noted that 

 acetic acid came in the second day after com- 

 mencing to fill. 



The quantity of acetic acid in all samples 

 of ensilage has appeared to be one of the 

 great objections to ensilage, and, in judging it, 

 other greater objections have been overlooked. 

 I have found that the quality of the preserved 

 forage does not depend upon its acidity. 



