22 Maize as a Fodder and Silage Crop, [april, 



ment of most micro-organisms, though some bacteria flourish 

 and produce further changes. 



American losses appear to average about 20 per cent, of the 

 dry matter, but their maize is more mature than ours when put 

 into the silo, and all experience goes to show that mature maize 

 surfers less loss in the silo than immature. The difference in 

 composition is set out below : — 





Dry Matter. 



Nitrogen 

 Free Extract. 



Fibre. 



American maize 

 English maize* 



Per cent. 

 207 

 16-8 



Per cent. 



12*2 

 874 



Per cent. 

 5 



4 ' 52 



* Average of years when loss was determined. 



There seem to be only two ways of reducing the loss — 



(1) To exclude air rigidly, which would be more effectively 



done in a cement silo than in one like ours, made of 

 vertical wooden staves ; 



(2) To select varieties of maize which can be relied upon to 



give large and more mature crops containing 20 per cent, 

 of dry matter without an undue amount of fibre. 



But even suppose this to be done, it seems doubtful whether 

 maize silage can ever seriously compete in this country with 

 roots or mangolds, except in places where these crops are 

 unusually costly. It appears to have less feeding value, and 

 the loss on production is very high. 



Summary. — Large crops of maize can be produced in a number 

 of districts, including parts of Cheshire and of Norfolk. 



The composition somewhat resembles that of grass ; it depends 

 on the season, and is least satisfactory in cold, wet seasons 

 when the crop is small, and most satisfactory in hot, dry ones 

 when the crop is large. 



All classes of stock take to maize, and it is well worth a trial 

 where succulent fodder is wanted during September. 



Maize can be converted into silage, which is quite a useful 

 food, though inferior to roots and mangolds. In the process of 

 manufacture the loss of dry matter was found to vary between 

 30 and 40 per cent., which loss falls mainly on the nitrogen free 

 extract and least on the fibre. Except when mangolds are 

 unusually costly, it hardly appears worth while growing maize 

 for the production of silage. Edward J. Russell. 



