158 FARMING ON FACTORY LINES 



For instance, a tremendous amount of research 

 work has been carried out to ascertain the chemical 

 changes which take place in the actual process of con- 

 verting the material into ensilage. 



DRIFT OF RESEARCH WORK 



This research, which is largely dwelt upon, is that a 

 certain percentage of the albuminoids is converted 

 into less valuable nitrogenous compounds, chiefly 

 amides. Such knowledge is, of course, of some im- 

 portance. But the big question after all, in connection 

 with ensilage making, is not what is the slight loss 

 sustained when albuminoids are converted into 

 amides, but how much of the material, especially in 

 bad weather, lacking the silage system, would be con- 

 verted into muck. 



Again, the main bulk of ensilage is usually made 

 during bad weather, when it is generally impossible 

 for man and horses to carry on other work. Lacking 

 the ensilage system as a second string to his bow, a 

 farmer would generally have his staff of men and 

 horses idle. To repeat, in this, and many other re- 

 spects, it is the labour economic question of ensilage 

 which requires investigation. 



SWAPPING EXPERIENCES 



There are very great possibilities in connection with 

 the conversion of such dense foliage crops as rape, 

 kale, etc., into ensilage. Very often, in springtime, 

 a farmer finds himself with more of these crops than 

 will satisfy his immediate needs. His only remedy at 

 present, is to buy in additional stock, but this is not 

 always possible, and where possible, may not be 

 profitable. Often, indeed, store cattle and sheep may 



