6o 



SILAGE STUDIES 



In 1898-1S99 the changes were not very marked, but in 

 1S99-1900 they were noticeaV)le and important, since they 

 occurred mainly in the carbohydrates, /. e.^ the fiber and 

 soluble carbohydrates, the former apparently increasing and 

 the latter losing. There is a loss in dry matter, which is 

 mainly due to the destruction of soluble carbohydrates. 



A study of these carbohydrates has shown tliat this destruc- 

 tion is confined almost exclusively to the sugars occurring in 

 the corn-plant. The results of determinations in three difler- 

 ent seasons show the following percentages of sugar in the 

 dry matter of the fodder as put in the silo, and of the silage 

 as taken out : 



AVERAGE PERCENTAGES OF SUGAR IN DRY MATTER. 



1S98-1899. 

 Fodder. Silage. 



1899-1900. 

 Fodder. Silage. 



1 900- 1 90 1. 



775 



0.20 



J0.89 



0.51 



Fodder, 

 8.24 



Silage. 



055 



The starch was apparently affected little, if at all. We 

 have but one year's results on this. In 1S98 four samples of 

 fodder gave an average of 3.06 per cent, starch in dry matter, 

 and the two samples of corresponding silage showed 3.17 

 per cent. 



This action on sugar is of much practical importance in its 

 bearing upon the period of growth at which to cut corn for 

 the silo. 



The amount of sugar has been found to vary widely in dif- 

 ferent seasons, which is due in a measure, if not wholly, to 

 the different stages of maturity at which corn will be when 

 cut. These periods must necessarily vary with different 



