310 Tlte Silo and Silage-stack Competition, 1885-86. 
case of the oat-crop ensiled bj Mr. Morris and Mr. Brassey, 
In Mr. Brassey's case the crop was chaffed, and was found to 
contain '24 per cent, of acetic acid and '79 per cent, of lactic 
acid ; while Mr. Morris's oat-silage unchaffed gave no acetic 
acid or lactic acid. It is therefore not unlikely that chaffing 
enables the ensilor to consolidate his fodder to a greater degree 
than otherwise, and so to reduce the quantity of air in the bulk 
of the fodder, and consequently the amount of oxidation with 
its accompanying elevation of temperature. Hence, if the con- 
ditions attending the crop in the silo, such as heavy pressure, 
large percentage of moisture, &c., be unfavourable to the de- 
velopment of rapid temperature, the tendency will be to produce 
acid silage. Mr. Fry states that the principle of sweet silage is 
to let the temperature rise to about 122° Fahrenheit, or 50° Cen- 
tigrade, throughout the bulk of the fodder. 
(6.) Silage as food, with its cost per ton. — Without entering into 
the complicated question of the chemistry of silage-making, or 
of the fermentations of the silo, it will be sufficient to state 
briefly what is definitely known of its effects in feeding stock. 
The Rothamsted silage, containing about 75 per cent, of water, 
was tested against mangolds, when 50 lbs. of the silage was 
found equivalent to about 84 lbs. of the mangolds. The silage 
was more effective in laying on fat, and the mangolds were more 
favourable for milk-production. These experiments of Sir John 
Lawes have clearly established the great value of silage as food, 
and have thrown a flood of light on the changes that take place 
in the silo, enabling silage-makers to base their calculations on 
scientific certainties. 
(7.) Tlie economg of Silage-maldng. — This, after all, is the 
crucial point to be determined, either by special experiments in 
silage-feeding, or by the combined experience of its use ^by 
farmers throughout the country. The object of farming gene- 
rally is to obtain the largest amount of digestible nutrients at 
the least cost, and also the least injury to the soil. There can 
be no doubt as to the economy of silage-making in localities 
where it is difficult or risky to make hay, or where good crops of 
roots cannot be grown regularly. But in other localities, where 
good hay and roots can be secured, it is doubtful if this process 
will supplant the root-crop, which enables the farmer to keep 
his land clean, and therefore in good condition to grow large 
crops of corn and " seeds." The chief advantages of silage- 
making against hay-making is its comparative independence 
of the weather ; that the fodder is handled while green, without 
any risk of the tender and nutritious leaves being lost on the 
ground as in hay-making ; that the resulting silage is succulent 
and palatable ; and that on purely grazing farms it is now pos- 
