168 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
I visited Mr. Swan on October 29th, 1883, but found very 
little to add to the description given above. The silage, like 
that from some other silos in which long grass had been pre- 
served, had become almost putrid ; but as the cows ate it 
readily, throve well upon it, and yielded an abundance of good 
milk and butter, Mr. Swan was tolerably satisfied Avith his first 
attempt. The importance of the system of ensilage to Mr. Swan 
and other suburban farmers who have little or no arable land, 
and who sell their milk in the town, can scarcely be exaggerated. 
If only it relieves them of the necessity of purchasing turnips, 
mangolds, or other succulent food in the winter, — at a price far 
above its feeding-value, as is generally their fate, — they can 
afford a considerable outlay in buildings, and a large expendi- 
ture in cartage and labour, for the purpose of converting a 
portion of their grass, more especially the aftermath, into a 
succulent food for winter use. Two samples of silage received 
from Mr. Swan on November 2nd may be reported upon as 
follows : — the sample from the top contained 77-8 per cent, of 
moisture and has become somewhat mouldy ; that from the 
bottom of the silo contained 82-6 per cent, of moisture, and, 
similarly preserved (in a wide-mouth stoppered bottle) is still 
in a good condition. An analysis of the drainage liquid by 
Dr. Voelcker yielded the following results : — 
The liquid itself contained : — 
Water -Ol-G?. 
Dry residue 5 "37 
100 -OD 
The dry residue had the following composition : — 
Albuminoids* .. 1 "50 or per cent. 27 '93 
Acids -88 „ 16-39 
Extractive matters 1-29 „ 24-02 
Ash 1-70 „ 31 -GG 
5-37 100-00 
* Containing nitrogen • 24, or per cent. 4 - 47 
This material is therefore much richer in albuminous matters 
and acids than the liquid from Mr. Stobart's silo (p. 105), 
but it is poorer in extractive and mineral matters. 
C. Silage Entirelv Chopped. 
19. Mr. J. AshfortJi, Longley Hall, Sheffield. — My silo is 14 feet long, 8 feet 
wide, and 9 feet deep, below the level of the soil, and on tlic north side of a hill. 
It is constructed out of an old stone-built shed, the walls being cemented to 
a thickness of 1 inch, and the floor stone-flagged. I have made no experiments 
with uncovered silo."*. The cost of conversion was 9/., and the silo will last 
