On the Chemistry of Ensilage. 
493 
11. Green Vetches, chopped, grown hy Mr. J. Ashworth, 
Longley Hall, Sheffield. — A sample of this silage, which kept 
remarkably well for more than four months without any precau- 
tion being taken to prevent free access of air, was received and 
analysed on the 11th of December, 1883, with the following 
results : — 
Water 78-40 
*Albuminous compounds 3 • 12 
Soluble carbo-hydrates 1 • 82 
Crude fibre 14-27 
Mineral matter (ash) .. 2*39 
100-00 
Containing nitrogen '50 
Volatile acids, calculated as acetic acid . . -17 
Non-volatile, lactic acid '48 
This sample, it will be seen, contained about 78^ per cent, of 
water, and about \ per cent, of lactic acid, and comparatively 
little acetic acid. 
12 and 13. Lord Tollemachis Silage. — Lord Tollemache sent 
me from Peckforton a sample of silage on the 13th of December, 
1883, and a second on the 27th of the same month, which gave 
the following results : — 
First Sample. 
Second Sample. 
Water 
71-60 
73-40 
3-25 
1-93 
2-28 
7-53 
18-81 
15-46 
4-06 
1-68 
100-00 
100-00 
•52 
•31 
Volatile acids, acetic acid 
Not determined 
•24 
Non-volatile acids, lactic acid 
•25 
1-20 
The first sample of Peckforton silage, containing 71-6 of 
water, did not keep well, as before the acid in it could be deter- 
mined it got mouldy ; the second, however, kept better, and 
contained, as will be seen, 1-2 per cent, of lactic acid and 
about -25 of volatile acids. In the preparation of the first 
sample about 2 lbs. of salt per cwt. of the green food had been 
used, which accounts for the high percentage of ash. In the 
second sample of silage the salt appears to have been omitted ; 
the addition of salt, it would appear, is unnecessary, if not 
somewhat injurious to the keeping qualities of silage. 
