On the Chemistry of Ensilage. 
503 
I may quote two examples, of maize and of lucerne, proving that 
these, like other fodder-crops, experience a considerable loss 
in food-constituents. 
In experiments with green maize, results were obtained from 
which the losses were calculated as follows: — 
Organic 
Matter. 
jrineral 
Matter. 
100 kilogrammes green maize, dried afl „„„t„;„:„„ 
212° Fahr / <'oii'^ai"'"S •• 
liilngrammes. 
87-82 
kilogrammes. 
12-18 
gave 
73 "9 kilogrammes of sour silage, alsol 
dried at 212° Fahr j 
65-29 
8-61 
26 •! kilogrammes loss during ensilage „ 
22-53 
3-57 
These losses were distributed among the chemical constituents 
as follows : — 
Albumi- 
noids. 
Chloro- 
phyll and 
Organic 
Acids 
(Ether 
Extract). 
Crude 
Fibre. 
Soluble 
Carbo- 
hydrates. 
Ash and 
Sand. 
100 kilogrammes greenl ..-.fains 
maize, dry / contains 
kilogrs. 
9-50 
kilogrs. 
2-14 
kilogrs. 
33-89 
kilogrs. 
42-29 
kilogrs. 
12-18 
73 • 9 kilogrammes sour'l 
5-91 
9-92 
23-93 
25-53 
8-61 
26-1 kilogrammes loss in'l 
-3-59 
+ 7-78 
-9-96 
-16-76 
- 3-57 
The gain in the extract by ether is due to the conversion of 
sugar into lactic, butyric, and other organic acids, which are 
soluble in the ether, whereas the sugar from which they are 
derived is insoluble. 
Similarly, in the case of lucerne, we have : — 
Organic 
Matter. 
Mineral 
Matter. 
100 kilogrammes green lucerne, dried) . ■ . 
at 212° Fahr. .. . . | containing .. 
gave 
72-9 kilogrammes of sour silage, also\ 
dried at 212° Fahr / " 
27 • 1 kilogrammes loss during ensilage „ 
kilogrammes. 
90-79 
64-58 
kilogrammes. 
9-21 
8 32 
26-21 1 0-89 
VOL. XX. — S. S. 
