Notes on the Composition of some Samples of Silage. 38;$' 
of ensilage. The increased percentage is doubtless due to loss 
of sugar or other soluble carbo-hydrates through fermentation ; 
which would leave the relative amount of nitrogenous matters 
in the dried silage higher than in the dried grass. But although 
there appears to have been no actual loss of nitrogen during the 
process, a very marked change has occurred in the constitution 
of the albuminous compounds. During the process of fermen- 
tation in the silo, nearly one-half of the insoluble albuminous 
compounds has been rendered soluble, and apparently split up 
into simpler substances. 
A comparison made in this manner also shows that a consider- 
able portion of the sugar and other soluble carbo-hydrates has 
been destroyed by fermentation, and converted into alcohol, car- 
bonic acid, acetic, and other organic acids. The increase in 
the ether extract is partially due to the formation of organic 
acids soluble in ether, but non-volatile at 212° Fahr. — probably 
lactic acid. 
The loss of water from the upper layers during ensilage 
has been appreciable. Unfortunately no attempt was made to 
register the temperature of the silo during the process ; but it- 
is evident, from the nature of the changes which have taken 
place, that considerable heat must have been generated, and 
this doubtless will have had its due effect in expelling a 
portion of the lost water, even from an apparently air-tight 
chamber. A portion also has drained away from the mass 
under the pressure to which it wis subjected, and this possibly 
might be sufficient to account for the greater part of the loss. 
This liquid C(mtained 83-76 per cent, of water and volatile- 
matters, but a much smaller quantity of mineral' matters- 
than 1 should have predicted. The ash consisted chiefly of 
carbonate and phosphate of lime and potash, together with 
common salt, only a comparatively small amount being salt. 
Considering the large quantity of salt used in the manufacture,, 
this fact is a little curious, and shows that the liquid has separated 
only at high pressure. 
That the bulk of the silage taken from the silo at Tatton 
Park, and examined by me, is a valuable food cannot admit 
of a doubt ; and it is equally clear that only a comparatively 
small part of the feeding value has been absolutely lost by the 
fermentative changes to which it has been subjected. It will 
be a matter for subsequent research to determine to what extent 
the feeding value is affected by the conversion of the insoluble- 
albuminoids into a soluble condition ; but it seems to me quite 
clear that, by the formation of amines, a small portion of the 
soluble nitrogen compounds must be looked upon as practically 
useless for feeding purposes. 
