1907.] Maize as a Fodder a\i> Silage Crop. 



19 



few days the temperature rises to something between 8o° and 

 125 0 F. ; it then slowly falls, but for months the silage is warm. 



The changes taking place have been investigated by the 

 writer in conjunction with Mr. H. E. Annett ; they are very 

 complex, but it appears that the essential changes are partly 

 brought about by the plant cell as a consequence of the diminished 

 air supply, and partly by the substances formed in the cell, 

 known as enzymes, which act both before and after death. The 

 mass becomes more acid and a large number of substances are 

 formed. Some of these prevent the development of mould, 

 the absence of which is characteristic of good silage, but they 

 do not altogether inhibit the action of bacteria, for certain kinds 

 are always present and can be detected even after six months. 

 These bacteria cause further changes, which, though of a 

 secondary nature and not at all an essential part of the process, 

 at any rate do not appear to involve the formation of any very 

 injurious substance. 



There seems no reason why silage should not be fed almost 

 at once, but it is probably more economical and certainly more 

 usual to keep it till February when roots are running short. 

 The top few inches are usually rotten and should be thrown 

 away, the rest is taken as required in horizontal layers, avoiding, 

 as far as possible, the entrance of air into the mass. Silage has 

 a greenish brown colour and a smell which has been likened by 

 various writers to strong tobacco and to pickled cabbage, but is 

 really a blend of several odours derived from its numerous 

 constituents. The composition is very constant and shows fai- 

 led fluctuation than that of the original maize. 



Faulk 4. — Average Percentage Composition of Maize Silage. 



Year. 



(Date of 

 filling SiK..) 



Dry 

 Matter. 



Ether 

 Extract 



M Protein" 

 (Nitrogen 

 x 6-25). 



Nitrogen 



Free 

 Extract. 



Fibre. 



Ash. 



Sugar. 





Pet 



I'er 



IV r 



Per 



Per 



Per 



Per 





cent. 



cent. 



cent. 



cent. 



cent. 



cent 



cent. 



1902 



1 2 • 10 



O' 16 



1*33 



5 *oS 



4-66 



o'9S 



Nil. 



1903 



1 2 m 20 



o* 10 



i*35 



5*°7 



r 1 3 



0*95 





1904 



13*79 



o-Sj 



.05 



5' "5 



5 ■ 1 0 



1 • 10 





1905... 





056 



1-63 





5-06 



o'93 





1906 



13*32 



0*29 



1 30 



S'bi 



5-20 



0-92 





Average 

 Mangolds ... 



12-09 

 I2'5 



o*39 

 o - 1 



i*45 

 1 • 1 



5*3» 

 9*6 



4S2 

 oS 



09S 



0-9 





