486 On the Chemistry of Ensilage. 
On analysis these two samples gave the following results : — 
Silage made from 
Clover ftnd 
Eye-grass, 
Mixed. 
Meadow 
Grass. 
. 
Sugar and other carbo-hydrates soluble in water 
75-80 
2-53 
1-43 
J o ol 
1-93 
74^40 
2-56 
2^99 
1 / yu 
2-15 
100 00 
100-00 
Volatile acids, calculated as acetic acid 
Non -volatile acids, calculated as lactic acid 
•40 
•01 
•01 
•41 
•04 
•02 
It will be seen that these specimens contained mere traces of 
acid, in fact no more than meadow-grass generally contains in 
its natural state. It is an extremely interesting fact that per- 
fectly sweet silage has been made by Mr. Fry, as he states, by 
allowing the heat in the silo to rise above 125° F. This he 
accomplishes by filling his silos without close packing, and by 
deferring weighting the mass for two or three days, until the 
temperature of the silage at a depth of about 4 ieet from the 
bottom of the silo has risen to a temperature rather higher than 
125° F. He then covers the silage with close-fitting boards, 
upon which he places weights or sand to a depth of about 
9 inches, whereby the air is excluded and a steady uniform 
pressure is applied. Mr. Fry's practice differs essentially from 
that generally adopted of applying pressure directly the silo is 
filled, and which results in the production of more or less sour 
silage ; whereas, by allowing the heat of the loosely-packed 
silage to rise to about 125° or 140° F. before covering the 
top of his silo, and then applying pressure, the production of 
sour silage is entirely prevented, and what Mr. Fry calls " haying 
fermentation " takes place. 
In 1883, Mr. George Fry of Chobham filled a silo with 
Trifolium incarnatum, " rough grass," and " clover and rye- 
grass," between the 7th and 30th of June ; the temperature 
recorded at the time of covering being 132° F., 6 feet from the 
surface: the silo was then weighted with 12 inches of sand. 
On July 11th, and again on the 17th, the cover was taken off, 
and the silo was filled with meadow-grass sufficient to replenish 
the space caused by settling ; the temperature observed at 
