Aug. 15, 1921 
Bacteriology and Chemistry of Different Silages 
775 
It is of interest to note that the decided increase in number of acid 
producers and the decided increase in acidity occur at the same time, 
thus indicating that acidity is due to micro-organisms. 
EXPERIMENT III. CORN SII.AGR AND CORN AND SOYBEAN SII,AGE, 1918 
The same variety of com was grown in each case. The corn-soybean 
mixture was obtained by planting soybeans with a hand seeder in the same 
rows with the com. In proportion by green weight the soybeans in the 
corn-soybean mixture amounted to approximately 30 per cent. As 
large a percentage of soybeans as this could not be hoped for under 
ordinary conditions, since the viability of seed com used was rather low, 
and the number of stalks was little more than half that of a normal stand! 
Ensiling took place when the com was well glazed and when the soy¬ 
beans were well podded. It was necessary to add some water to the com 
silage to insure its preservation, as it was somewhat advanced in maturity. 
On account of the rainy season both kinds of silage contained an unusual 
amount of weeds. It is not believed that this affected the quality 
materially, since in a feeding test which followed the animals relished 
and ate them both throughout the experiment with practically no waste. 
This experiment was run for the purpose of comparing com silage 
with silage composed of a mixture of com and soybeans. (Tables IV 
to VII.) 
The bacteriological results given in Tables IV and VI show little differ¬ 
ence between the two kinds of silage. 
Acid-producing organisms were the predominating group. For the 
first few days there were large numbers of organisms belonging to the 
colon group, but there was a gradual reduction until on the thirty-ninth 
day, when there were no colon organisms in the com silage and only a 
few m the corn and soybean silage. There was a gradual reduction in 
the number of yeasts and protein digesters in both kinds of silage. 
The chemical analyses given in Tables V and VII show that the greatest 
increase in acidity and amino nitrogen occurs during the first four days 
of the fermentation. The ammonia determinations fluctuate to a con¬ 
siderable extent, with a tendency to decrease in the corn silage and in- 
crease in the com and soybean silage. 
Graphs showing the increase in acidity, amino nitrogen, and ammonia 
are given in figures 1, 2, and 3, respectively. 
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS 
Three laboratory experiments were performed with Canada field pea 
and oat silage: 
IV. Untreated. 
V. Treated with 2 per cent chloroform. 
VI. Sterilized and inoculated. 
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