TRANSFORMATION IN SILOS AND LOSSES. 99 



After a few days the mass becomes heated, and there follows Transformation 

 a lactic fermentation w r hich when completed leaves the mass in in Sllos and 

 a brown colored condition. It may remain in a perfect state of 

 preservation during a very long period, lasting for several 

 years three or more. The fermentation in question means 

 a considerable softening of the leaves and a reduction in the vol- 

 ume of the exterior portion. The mass settles, and the volume 

 is reduced by one-third and frequently 50 per cent. , the loss of 

 nitrogen being 30 per cent. , and it is at this time that open cre- 

 vices are noticeable in the earth covering, through which there is 

 clanger of air penetrating. Under these circumstances there 

 would follow all sorts of secondary reactions very favorable to 

 the existence of micro-organisms, the combined action of which 

 would cause putrefaction. Under all circumstances, it is advis- 

 able to carefully close these openings as soon as they are visible. 

 The upper stratum always comes more or less in contact with 

 the air, and is consequently the first to show signs of decay or 

 organic changes of the residuum being kept. It necessarily fol- 

 lows that these transformations mean a money loss to all inter- 

 ested. 



A German analysis * of leaves siloed for six months showed 

 that they contained 0.136 per cent, oxalic acid soluble in water 

 and 0.46 per cent, insoluble in water possibly in the form of a 

 calcic oxalate. 



Stutzer gives the following analysis of siloed beet leaves : 



Per cent. 



Water 69.8 ^| 



Mineral substances. . 15.9 Per cent ' 



Raw protein 2. 2 



Cellulose 4.3 



Non-nitrogenous 6.4 



Fatty substances ... 1.4 J 



The raw protein con 



Amides 0.4 



ta i ne( j .......... -j Non-digestible nitric 



substances ...... 1.7 



The excessive mineral percentage was explained by the im- 

 purities possibly introduced by the leaves from having been in 

 contact with earth. 



*No analysis should be made of siloed leaves until cleaned and free from the 

 earth collected from the side of silos. 



