496 
On the Chemistry of Ensilage. 
Ijsed was taken 4 feet from the top of the silo, and although it 
contained only 51 per cent, of moisture, it rapidly went mouldy. 
Mr. Ford's silage was made from unchopped grass, containing 
73*7 of moisture, and also rapidly got mouldy on exposure to 
the air. Both samples were decidedly acid. 
21. Tfiousand- headed Kale, chaffed, was placed in a silo by 
Mr. G. M. Allender on August 29th. Analysed about a month 
afterwards, it gave the following results : — 
Water 86-97 
Soluble albuminoids "82 
Insoluble albuminoids 1 • 22 
Soluble carbo-hydrates 2 • 30 
Crude fibre 6-64 
Soluble ash 1-53 
Insoluble ash '52 
100-00 
Total nitrogen - 32 
Volatile acids (acetic acid) -09 
Non-volatile acids (lactic acid) -SB 
A large, wide-mouthed glass bottle was filled with this silage, 
and kept in the Laboratory for a period of three months, after 
which the acid was again determined, and found to amount to — 
Volatile acids (butyric and other volatile acids) .. -37 
Non-volatile acids (lactic acid) - 78 
thus, after three months keeping, showing a large increase 
in the proportion of acid in the silaged kale. Although no 
precaution was taken to exclude the air, the silage, which had 
an aromatic smell and sour taste, resembling that of " Sauer- 
kraut," kept sound, and perfectly free from mould. 
22. Sewage-grass made into Silage by Mr. Garrett Taylor, 
Trowse House, Norivich. — The silo was filled in July with 
sewaged Italian rye-grass, which was chopped by steam into 
;^-inch lengths by Maynard's chaff-cutter ; at the same time a 
little salt was used in packing the silo, with a view to the better 
preservation of the green food. Mr. Garrett Taylor sent me a 
sample, which reached me on January 2nd, 1884, in a perfectly 
sound condition, and on analysis furnished the following results : 
Moisture 55-00 
*Albuminous compounds 7-75 
Soluble carbo-hydrates 5-18 
Crude fibre 27-52 
Mineral matters (ash) 4*55 
100-00 
* Containing nitrogen 1-08 
Volatile aciils (calculated as acetic acid) ; .. -80 
Non- volatile acids (lactic acid) - 19 
