100 FEEDING WITH SUGAR BEETS, SUGAR, ETC. 



It has been proposed, in order to obviate the losses of these 

 protein substances, to have a cemented bottom in the silos so as 

 to retain the liquid in question; but experience has shown that 

 there follows no increase in the total nutritive value of the^final 

 product; and furthermore its palatability is very much lessened. 

 In order to increase the conservation of siloed leaves it is desir- 

 able to add one per cent, of ordinary salt. 



It may happen that the mass becomes excessively heated, and 

 instead of lactic acid there will be formed acetic acid, resulting 

 in an acetic fermentation. This very materially diminishes the 

 nutritious value of the leaves that are to be kept. Efforts have 

 been made to hasten the lactic fermentation with the view of 

 obviating this difficulty. To produce lactic acid the leaves are 

 moistened during siloing with sour milk, but this has not given 

 the results hoped for. 



Faulty siloing. Under certain circumstances, which we regret to say are of 

 very frequent occurrence, the siloing has been very badly done, 

 and the exterior leaves are rotten. These may be removed by 

 a spade or any other implement. Regarding this question it is 

 well to note that under all circumstances there is necessarily a 

 certain decomposition of the upper surface of the product being 

 siloed, and it does not necessarily follow that the person in 

 charge is responsible for the surface alterations which always 

 occur, do what one may; but what we have reference to is an 

 excessive putrefaction, such as is frequently seen in some of our 

 western farms where efforts have been made at siloing either 

 leaves or cossettes. Any putrefaction of more than one foot be- 

 low the surface is extremely faulty. Two or three inches from 

 the surface may be said to be the limit. 



Leaves and other It seldom occurs that beet leaves are siloed without the addi- 

 substances in tion of some foreign material, the object of which is extremely 

 silo. variable. Upon general principles these leaves are kept in con- 

 junction with other forages in order to obtain a compact mass 

 into which air penetrates with difficulty. Under these circum- 

 stances there is very much less danger of putrefaction, and this 

 siloed material, which is of great value to the farmer, lasts with- 

 out undergoing the slightest change during a period of years. 



It is considered desirable, according to Herzfeld, to carry out 



