Edible Products. 52 



with the very best of results. With a 

 pit no pressure is necessary. Spread 

 the stuff evenly, taking the temperature 

 now and again. If temperature rises 

 cramp it down all over specially all 

 round the edges, and when the crop is 

 all in and the temperature is bound 

 to keep right, cover with some straw, 

 and in three months the result will be 

 first class ensilage. 



CROPS FOR SILAGE. 



Any vegetation that stock will eat 

 in its natural state will make good 

 ensilage, and it will be much improved 

 by the operation. It is said that cattle 

 assimilate silage better than they do 

 any other food, the reason being that 

 the change effected in the silo is nearly 

 or quite that which is brought about 

 in the first stomach of the cud-chewing 

 animal. Maize makes a specially good 

 silage and can be highly recommended. 

 As regards other material, experience 

 can only show what other Ceylon crops 

 makes the best silage. In conclusion I 

 may sum up the whole process in the 

 following facts : — 



(1) . Appropriate crops combining suc- 

 culence and maturity. 



(2) . To harvest when the crop has 

 about 75 per cent, of moisture in its com- 

 position. 



(3) . The staking, or chaffing and 

 filling of the silo, to proceed so that the 

 temperature of the material reaches 80 

 degrees and does not exceed 90 degrees 

 for sour, while 125 to 140 degrees Fahr. 

 for sweet. 



[January, 1909. 



(4). Careful attention to details until 

 the temperature remains at the desired 

 point,— P. G. schradbr in Ceylon Inde- 

 pendent, Nov. 27th, 1908. 



SUGAR IN INDIA. 



Anything which can be done to encour- 

 age the sugar industry in India should 

 be welcome, for its progress is slow and 

 the enormous imports from Java show 

 no sign of falling off. In the Indian 

 Trade Journal particulars are given of 

 a process for utilizing the waste products 

 of manufacture, the residue of the cane 

 after it has passed through the mill. At 

 present this is useless except when 

 dried for fuel, but it is said to have 

 qualities which make it valuable for 

 paper manufacturers. A Trinidad sugar 

 planter has invented a process by which 

 the crushed canes are converted into 

 paper pulp, and he is now working sugar 

 and paper mills in combination. The 

 new pulp is worth £5 per ton, and as 

 there is a general shortage of wood 

 fibre for paper-making the new product 

 commands a good sale. It is suggested 

 that experiments should be tried in 

 India whereby the waste products of 

 our sugar-mills could be utilised in the 

 manner described. Perhaps the Agri- 

 cultural Department may take up the 

 matter and obtain particulars of the 

 Trinidad process with a view to its 

 adoption in Iudia. — Indian Agriculturist, 

 Vol. XXXIII, No. 9.) 



