SILAGE STUDIES 5I 



There are two facts which must be emphasized in this com- 

 parison, the greatest weight of fodder was obtained at the time 

 the plant was in full bloom ; but the most dry matter and es- 

 sential nutrients, protein and soluble carbohydrates, were in 

 the most mature corn, in this instance, at the roasting-ear 

 stage. 



In the earliest stages of growth the plant consisted largely 

 of water and fibre, and had not reached its maximum size. 



In other words, one will get the most tons of green fodder 

 when the corn is in full bloom ; but it vvoidd take one and one 

 third tons at that stage to be equal to one ton of the fodder cut 

 at the stage when the kernel is full. A field would have to 

 yield sixteen tons per acre in one case and twelve tons in the 

 other. This is of fundamental importance in the selection of 

 varieties of corn for silage. It has been tried by several sta- 

 tions and with the same result. A variety of corn which does 

 not reach the stage of fairly well filled ears is unprofitable 

 from the standpoint of yield of actual food material. 



COMPARISON OF VARIETIES OF CORN FOR SILAGE. 



The removal of the experiment station to Durham, in the 

 southeastern part of the state, made this question a practical 

 one since the corn season was, on the whole, somewhat longer 

 than at Hanover. 



In 1895, '96, and '97 three typical varieties of corn were 

 planted for silage, viz., Sanford, Leaming, and Mosby's Pro- 

 lific. 



The Sanford is well known throughout the state, but it is 

 not amiss to say briefly that it is a white flint varietv, grow- 

 ing about eight feet high, with an abundance of foliage and 

 developing large ears. 



The Leaming is also well known as a yellow dent variety, 

 grows with us about ten feet high on the average, and devel- 

 ops a large ear which generally reaches either the dough or 

 glazing stage at our usual time of cutting, the second week in 

 September. 



Mosby's Prolific is a typical Southern corn, grows about 

 twelve feet tall, and barely reaches the stage of tassel and silk. 



With regard to the yields of the different varieties much de- 



