34 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



ment of acid. Silage from immature corn, then, is likely to 

 be excessively sour, and is for "that reason less desirable than 

 silage from more mature corn. 



The chief points, then, which may be urged against the 

 selection of excessively late varieties of corn for ensilage, 

 are as follows : — 



1. Much greater bulk and water in proportion to actual 

 food value. 



2. Greater probable waste in the manger, on account of 

 the refusal of the animals to eat the very thick and coarse 

 stalks. 



3. Such corn, while furnishing more dry matter, contains in 

 larger proportion the less valuable food substances (fibre and 

 sugar) and a smaller proportion of protein, fat, and (though 

 not proved by our analyses) we may safely say starch as well. 



4. The immature corn produces a very sour silage, on 

 account of the relatively large proportion of sugar and of 

 water. 



5. Though this point is not always important, grass and 

 clover are apt to make but a poor start when seeded in fields 

 planted with excessively large and late varieties. As a large 

 proportion of farmers in some sections now usually seed in 

 ensilage corn, this point should not be disregarded. 



VIII. — Soil Tests. 

 During the past season two soil tests have been carried 

 out on our own grounds, both in continuation of previous 

 work upon the same fields. The same kinds of fertilizers 

 have been applied to each plot, and in the same amounts as 

 last year. The fertilizers in these experiments are used in 

 accordance with the co-operative plan for soil tests adopted 

 in Washington in 1889. Each fertilizer, wherever em- 

 ployed, is applied at the same rates per acre. The following 

 table shows the kinds and usual amounts : — 



Nitrate of soda, 160 pounds, furnishing nitrogen. 



Dissolved bone-black, 320 pounds, furnishing phosphoric acid. 



Muriate of potash, 160 pounds, furnishing potash. 



Land plaster, 400 pounds. 



Lime, 400 pounds. 



Manure, 5 cords. 



