12 BULLETm 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGElCtJLTURE. 



In 1915-16 the average figures for total nitrogen show a loss of 

 7.31 per cent, with almost exactly the same losses for the upper and 

 lower bags. If it were not for the unaccountably high loss of nitro- 

 gen in bag No. 3, the losses for the bags in the lower half would be 

 less than those in the upper half. However, even considering the 

 figure for bag No. 3 as normal, the large loss of nitrogen in the juice 

 would supply a reason why the average figures for total nitrogen 

 show no differences between the bottom and top halves of the silo. 

 The average losses in total nitrogen in all bags for both seasons are 

 very moderate when compared with the results of other investi- 

 gators. 



The smallest loss in albuminoid nitrogen for either season is 34.15 

 per cent, the largest 64.01 per cent, which also occurs in the same 

 season. The average total loss for 191^15 is 50.76 per cent and for 

 1915-16 57.27 per cent. The slightly greater loss in albuminoid 

 nitrogen in the latter season may or may not be due to the less 

 mature condition of the corn when ensiled. 



The nonalbuminoid nitrogen is, of course, very small in amount in 

 the corn when ensiled, but increases several times its own weight 

 during ensiling in both seasons. The increase is 270.36 per cent the 

 first season and 231.79 per cent the second season. 



ASH. 



The figures for loss or gain in ash for both seasons show very 

 plainly the transfusion from the upper half to the lower half of the 

 silo. In 1914-15, 2 of the 4 upper bags gained slightly and the other 

 2 lost strongly, while all 4 bottom bags gained strongly and consist- 

 ently. The average for the top bags shows a loss of 8.96 per cent 

 and for the bottom bags a gain of 17.61 per cent. The total aver- 

 age gain of 2.07 per cent may be explained in the same way as the 

 gain in total nitrogen. The figures for 1915-16, while showing losses 

 throughout, show plainly that less ash is lost from the bottom bags 

 than from the top bags. The loss for the top bags was 10.43 per 

 cent and for the bottom bags only 2.16 per cent, which latter would 

 probably have been a gain had no juice escaped. 



SUGARS. 



The sugars, as has been shown by previous investigators, are the 

 source of much of the actual weight loss of dry matter during en- 

 siling. In both years the nonreducing sugars entirely disappeared 

 and only about 6 per cent of the reducing sugars was left. The loss 

 is slightly greater in the lower bags than in the upper. This is prob- 

 ably due to the fact that fermentation has had a longer time to act 

 on the sugars that remain after the first period of rapid action has 

 taken place. 



