60 



of loss or degradation of constituents above referred to, 

 it seems to be less appropriate for them than the usual 

 more succulent foods, both so far as the flow of milk, 

 and its quality, are concerned. The important questions 

 as to the effect which the extensive adoption of en- 

 silaging would have on the cropping and general 

 economy of the farm, cannot be referred to here. 



The results of the first season's experiments, those of 

 1884-85,both as to the changes and loss in the production 

 of the silage, and as to the feeding experiments, have 

 been given, and pretty fully discussed, in No. 30, 

 Series 2. Those obtained in the second season have 

 been published in the " Agricultural Gazette" both so 

 far as the production of the silage and the feeding ex- 

 periments are concerned. But the results, both as to 

 the silage-production, and as to the feeding experi- 

 ments, of subsequent seasons, remain to be considered. 

 The hitherto unpublished results would form the subject 

 of an important contribution to existing knowledge on 

 the ensilage question, whenever the pressure of other 

 subjects may permit of time being devoted to it. 



The Silos will probably be used whenever the 

 characters of the season are such as to render it desir- 

 able or convenient to preserve forage crops in that way. 

 But further experiments on the production and use of 

 silage are for the present in abeyance, and they will 

 probably only be again undertaken should some special 

 points of enquiry arise. 



XVI. SUMMARY, PAPERS TO BE WRITTEN, &c. 



I have now given an account, as brief as the nature 

 of the subject would permit, of the history, and of the 

 present position, of most of the investigations which 

 have been undertaken at Kothamsted ; and, as it is sup- 

 posed that the document will chiefly be of use for 

 reference, and a full table of contents is provided at the 

 commencement, it is believed that the amount of detail 

 given will be an advantage. 



In regard to my Oxford Lectures, it may be stated, 



