INDIAN CORN. 385 



mentation that is going on will become putrefaction, and 

 the fodder will be lost. The success depends entirely on 

 the extent of the exclusion of air. Sometimes when the 

 crevices in the soil are not at once stopped the fumes of the 

 alochol may be distinctly detected, showing that fermenta- 

 tion is rapidly going to its next process, putrafaction. One 

 case is noticed where an entire failure took place because 

 the pit was covered with sand, its porosity admitting the 

 air. In the beginning of this process simple pits were 

 made, the sides being nothing more than earth, and they 

 were lined with straw or boards, but since its success has 

 been assured, these pits are lined with brick and hydraulic 

 cement to exclude moisture, as it was found that the fodder 

 coming in contact with the earth was generally mouldy and 

 worthless. For the same reason shelters are erected over 

 them, though if the sides are properly Joped and ditched 

 around, this will be unnecessary. Not only are the various 

 kinds of forage preserved in this way, but all kinds of roots, 

 such as beets, turnips, potatoes, carrots, etc., and apples may 

 be kept. It appears from analyses carefully made that a 

 slight degree of fermentation takes place in the fodder, re- 

 ducing its water and increasing its azotized and fatty princi- 

 ples. It is greedily devoured by all kinds of stock, and in 

 every respect is equal to the green food as. it stood in the 

 fields. The fodder of corn does not change its color or ap- 

 perance in the least, nor does clover, but other hays take on 

 a slightly brownish tinge. When desired for use it can be 

 taken up and placed in the barn, being careful to take out 

 not more than a weeks supply at a time, unless the weather 

 is freezing cold ; and the residue must be carefully covered 

 as before. For this reason some farmers have their pits 

 divided by partitions so that one compartment may be taken 

 up at a time. The reason for sloping the ends of the pit 

 is that equal pressure may be brought to bear on the entire 

 pile, it being ascertained that unless pressure is made on all 

 it will not keep well. Some French writers advocate the 

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