at Home and Abroad. 
217 
The following is the analysis of the same fodder fiesh, taken from the 
Tables of M. von Gohrer, which gives an approximate idea of the change that 
fermentation has protiuced ia the fodder : — 
Water 75 • 3 
Total dry matter 24 "7 
(Ash in 100 parts of dry matter 7 ' -iG) 
Albuminous matters 4' 5 
Fat 0-7 
Non-nitrogenous matter 8' 4 
Woody fibre 9-3 
This analysis differs very little from that of pitted fodder. I believe that 
the difference bears principally on the digestibility of the materials rather 
than in the change of the matter itself. 1 have also undertaken an enquiry 
into the fermentation of these fodders, which I shall have pleasure in com- 
municating to you wlien it is finished. 
3. Monsieur E. Lecouteux, Chateau de Cergay, par La Motte Beuvron 
(^Loir-et-Cher). — Silage at Cerfay is made in a barn, which becomes dis- 
engaged in September, after the corn has been threshed. It is on a level 
with the soil, which rests on a subsoil too damp in winter for digging or 
pitting under-ground. The size of the barn is as follows : — 
Length, 13J metres (15 yards)) . . .^q.^ yards'). 
Breadth, 5J do. (6J yards) \ ^'^^^^'^'^ ' * ^'^^'^^^ ^-^^ ^ ^1- •> 
Height of the pitted vegetable mass, 4 metres (4 yds. 1 ft. 4 in.), 
j Cubic total before pitting, 296 metres (405 cub. yds. 17 cub. ft.). 
(For both of the two barns serving as silos, 592 metres (811 c. yds. 7 c. ft.). 
Ditto after pitting six weeks, 444 metres (608 c. yds. 12 c. ft.) 
There are three bays in brickwork. That in the middle measures 51 mfetres 
(6J yards), and those at the ends 4 metres (4 yds. 1 ft. 4 in.) each. Total 
in the longitudinal axis of the buildings, 13^ metres (15 yds.). They are 
marked by pilasters of 45 cm. (about IJ ft.) to the square. The walls 
between the pilasters are 35 cm. (14 inches) thick. The roof is slate, 
costing 4 francs the square metre {Sid. per square foot). The brickwork 
cost 20 francs the cubic metre (lis. 8c?. per cubic yard). I estimate the 
building to last forty years at least. In each year I use it both for housing 
cereals and for the pitting of maize. Last year, the last named operation 
was done between the 20th and the 30th of October. 
I sometimes pit pure maize ; sometimes maize mixed with chopped straw, 
dry hay, and threshed vetches ; sometimes maize mixed with green meadow 
grass, clover, lucerne, &c. The maize is harvested nearly ripe, when the 
corn is half-milky (demi-Iaiteux), and when the fingers can crush it. 
Trifolium incarnatum is harvested when in full flower, and the late cut of 
lucerne just before the flowering, which, however, last year did not come, as 
the late season was against it. The maize is cut into about 2 to 4 cm. (2j cm. 
= 1 inch) lengths, but grass is not cut. I do not use salt. It is only 
useful when damaged crops are mixed with other fodder, and pitted together. 
Iq such cases it will improve the damaged fodder. Each of my silos is filled 
in three or four days. When from bad weather or other causes it is impos- 
sible to fill the silo quickly, there is no need to worry oneself. The sinking 
is better, and by this means a greater quantity of fodder can be pitted. 
Nevertheless I prefer to pit quickly, and put it together very high (4 and 
5 metres). The heap of maize will be the more reduced in height the 
greater the quantity piled up. Evidently the upper layers press down the 
lower ones. The maize thus compresses itself. In this uay I obtain a first 
pressure. What is good for maize also holds good for other pitted materials. 
