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D Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplAmentaires: This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de rMuction !ndiquA ci-dessous. IPX 14X 18X 22X "1 I n \ I I fn \ n 26X 30X 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here hee been reproduced thenkt to the generosity of: Library Agriculture Canada The imeges appearing here are *he best quality possible considering the conditiu.i and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies In printed paper covers 8>e filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the be&k cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated Impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or Illustrated impression. 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Un des symboles sulvants appara?tra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifle "A SlIIVRE", le symbols V signifle "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, plancheti, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre fllmte d des taux da rMuctlon diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit ?n un seul clichA, 11 est f llmA A partir da I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A drolte. et de haut en has, en prenant la nombre d'images nAcessaira. Les diagrammes sulvants illutitrent la mAthdde. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ;0; DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. OTT^^L^V^, CA^TADA. BULLETIN No 12. ;il CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, li ;o:- i!. PART I.— Indian Corn or Maize as a Fodder Plant. PART II. — Report on the Chemical Composition of certain varieties of Indian Corn. P. 1 JUNE, 1891. III To the Honourable, Tlie Mini.stei' of Agriculture. Sir, — I bog to submit for your appi-oval the twelfth Bulletin fiom the Central Experimental Farm, relating to a crop of very great and growing importance to this country, namely, that of Indian Corn or Maize. The use of this plant for fodder, either dried or made into ensilage, is having the otfect of materially lessening the cost of feeding stock through the winter, and from experience already gained it promises to be a most useful factor in stimulating winter dairying. The first part, which has been prepared by nij'self, treats of the methods of cultivation, the growth and pro ductiveness of the many varieties which have been tested at the Experimental Farm during the past two years, and the cost oi preparing ensilage. The second part, prepared under my direction by Mr. Frank T. Shutt, Chemist of the Dominion Experimental Farms, relates to the chemical composition of corn at ditfeient stages of its growth, a work which has been undertaken mainly tor the purpose of showing at what period this crop can be most profitably cut. Analyses ai-e also given of the ensilage prepared at the Farm. I have the honour to be. Your obedient servant, WM. SAUNDERS, Director Experimental Farms. Ottawa, IGth June, ISOl. CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 1 f' -:o:- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OTT^AVA^, CA^_A.DA, :o:- PART I. INDIAN CORN OR MAIZE AS A FODDER PLANT. By Wm. Sauxders, f.r.s.c. f.l.s., f.c.s., Director Dominion E.vperi mental Farms. There are few subjects more important at the present time to the farmers of Canada than that of the economical winter feeding of stock. The man who carries on mixed farming is, as a rule, the successful farmer. To depend for returns on the sale of cereals alone, or the disposal of hay grown on the farm is a wasteful course, which, however rich the soil may be, will sooner or later reduce it to such a condition of exhaustion as to make cropping unprofitable. But when the growing of grain and hay is associatetl with the nvising of stock and pasturing, and where a large proportion of what is grown on the land is fed to cattle on the farm, the manu- rial constituents obtained will, if well cared for and returned to the soil, matoriall^.'-aid in maintaining its fertility for a very long period. Farmers do not always realize that with every load of grain they sell they dispose of a part of the valuable constituents of their land in the important ingredients which this grain has taken from the - readied its limit, and with similar effort and skill brought to bear on the production of butter, a large and profitable trade could soon be built up in that commodity. During the summer season tJic pasture lands of most eastern farms usually furnisli rich aii'l luxuriant lierbage; the great desidei-atum is cheap and nutritious food for the long winter months when cattle have to be housed, food so stored as to be convenient, and handled with little expense. In the North-West also Canadian farmers are learning that it is unwise to trust entirely to grain growing, and in Manitoba and tlic Territories mixed fai-ming is becoming more general. There li;is been a prodigious increase in the number of cattle in that country within the past five years, and dairying enterprise is beginning to be developed. As long as the immber of cattle there was small, and Imt a limited proportion of the land taken up, the western plains afforded uidimited pasturage for stock, and the lower lands furnished an abundance of hay for winter use, which could be had almost for the cutting. Now the conditions are changing. The land is beini,^ rapidly settled and the nearer unoccupied hay lands are no longer sufficient to provide winter sustenance for the increasing herds, and the farmer has either to drive his cattle a long distance from home and put them into rude winter quarters near his hay supply oi- io draw his hay, in many instances, from 25 to 50 miles to feed hi>^ animals at home. With the steady influx of settlers, farmeis there must soon face the problem of growing on their owm land winter food for their stock. TIME OP CUTTING, SELECTION OF VARIETIES, ETC. Indian corn, where it can be successfully grown, produces })ro- bably a greater weight of crop per acre than" any other fodder plant. It is nutritious and a very large quantity can be grown at a small cost, In the growth of this plant stores of nutriment are gradually laid up in its stalks and leaves until it reaches that stage when the grain is formed, but still in a soft condition, when the curs arc said to ho " ^la/ed." Then tho phiiit can ho cut ami storotl at LCroalost profit to tho grower. If cut het'oi-o this it is soft and watorv and deficient in nutritive matter, and if the cuttin;;' i> de* laycd mucli later, jiorlions of tho stalks and leaves hecome inijutvcr* i>lied ane cuknI and fed dry, or made into ensilage it should ho cut when the ears liavo reache(l tho '' gla/ed " condition. Some of the larirer sorts of (I* f »dder corn which ))roduco very heavy croj)s aro lato in ripenin and in tho.o locations where the ici'owing season is short thev do not reach their host condition heforo frost comes, there, earlier I il»enirig varieties aro to be preforre\' nutritious food than a lar<:;or wc^ight of a moi-e wateiv character. lA'perience has shown that fodder corn, especially when made into ensilage, and associated with a little bran oi- some provender made liy grinding the coarser gi-ains, supplies a cheap ration on which cattle may be fed during tho winter with good results either for dairy purposes or for beef. In No. i Dairy Bulletin, prepared by James W. Robertson, Dairv Commissioner for the Dominion, iiuich useful information has been iriven on tho growing; of 0 >rn, tho construction of the silo and tho pre])aration of en- ^ilage. This subject being so important to farmers in all parts of Canada, experiments have been carried on at the Central Farm at Ottawa dui'ing the past two years with a large iiuniber of vario ties of corn for the purpose of ascertaining their relative earliness and yield. Tests have also been made dur- ing tho past year at each of tho branch experimental larms with a similar object in view. In these experiments tho different varieties have boon grown side b}'' side on nearly unifoi'm soil. Those classed a> dent or tooth corn have in most instances produced the greatest weight of fodder, but have been the latest to ripen. The flint and sweet vai'ieties vary much in their time of ripening, also in tho vigour of their growth and i-elativo productiveness. The results • •titained at the Central Farm will be given here. The experience u'liined at the branch farms has already boon published in the Animal Eeport for 1890. DIFFERENT CLASSES OF CORX. Indian corn may be conveniently divided into four classes. 1st, the varieties of dent corn, which are readily distinguished from other 'i illl'ii ^ 'I I, "!' IJ: r I 6 Horts by the tooth-Iiko form of the kcriiols ; 2n(l, flint corn, in which tilt' upper end of the kernel is rounded and smooth ; Unl, sweet corn, which may ho known when ripe hy the wrinkled surface of thei^iain ; and 4th, pop corn, the ears of which ai'o small, the kernels Hniall, hard and closely sot on the curs and more or less pointed in form. ESTIMATES oF YIELD, CHARACTER OF SOIL. All the varieties enumerated in the following lists wore sown in rows .'} feet wi. -^ f« /. -r — Z ?i fi Mi:i- 7'" I i;v: 1- y. -^ — ? I •* -j; — — ^ -r • • ^™ • • • • • I • • • I ^^ • I • I »^m « I • ■ M ?!■ ^ ;^ ^ ' ■ • ^ '^ I • r'' ?'i ?i fi ?i ^ ?i Ti Tl tc >::;) ^ y t- s ^ ^ .— .-r # = b* 5 i = it r u.^ tt'r H C u it = -•- t.= :«- : ti t t. 4 1. t. - - _- S . :; I- :; c . . is . 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While the usual method of i^rowinc: corn for fodder is in rows, it ma}' also be planted in hills 3 feet apart each way with almost equally good results as to the weight of yield, while the plants being thus more exposed to sunlight will produce ears more freely. Some varieties grow much stronger than othei's, are more leaf) , and stool more, sending up several shoots from the base. The Thoroughbred White Flint is probably the best example of this class. An acre of this variety grown at the Central Experimental Fai'm in 1890, cut and weighed green gave a little over thirty tons. Twenty' tons to the acre is a fairly good yield. RELATIVE VALUE OF ENSILAGE AND HAY. Opinions ditfei' as to the relative value of ensilage and hay; some careful observers claim that two tons of well-prepared ensilage are equal to one ton of hay, while others hold that three tons are re- quired to furnish the same quantity of nutriment. It is not easy to demonstrate accurately the I'clative value of the two, for the reason that the corn when converted into ensilage has undergone changes which make it more easily digested, and hence in feeding, the nutritious matter is more completely assimilated and is not subject to so much waste as when hay is fed. METHODS OF PRESERVATION. Corn may be cut green, stacked in the field until dry — when it loses about half its weight — and stored near the barn during winter and cut up as required, or it may be placed in a silo and converted into ensilage. The early forms of silos were constructed of stone or brick and partly below ground, but the more lecent structures are of wood withair spaces between to keep out frost. They can be made most cloaply in a mow of the barn, but when it is not convenient to do this a silo may be built against the barn, on the outside of it. It may be built of 2x12 timber sheeted with rough inch lumber on cither side, then covered with dressed lumber with the joints broken. Full particulars for the construction of such a building will be found in the bulletin already mentioned, No. 4, of the Dairy series. 13 COST OF TRODUCINO ENSILAGE. The following are the details of cost of growing two acres oi'corn, in 1890, and putting it in the silo at the Central Experimental Farm. One acre was Thoroughbred White Flint, which yielded 30 tons; the other was two-thirds Giant Prolitic Ensilage, and one-third acre divided between Pearce's Prolific, Virginia liorse-tooth and Golden Dent, the yield from this acre being 22 tons, 1,151 lbs., or a total on the two acres of 52 tons, 1,151 lbs. It was sown May 24, and cut September 10. The land chosen for this crop was adjoiiiing that which was selected for the experimental corn plots in 1890 and had been cropped and tieated in the same rnannei-. For par- ticulars of this see page G. The only fertilizer used was the mixture referred to below, which was sown broadcast. 8 cts. Ploughing in Fall of 1889, $2 per acre 4 Oo Disk harrowing, once, in Spring, 1890 0 80 Harrowing with iron harrow 0 40 Cost of seed, one bushel 1 75 Team, sowing, 2^ hours at 30c 0 75 Four times cultivating, with one-horse cultivator, 2h hours each time at 50c 2 00 One man hoeing 3 days: 1^ days June 19 and 20; I^day8june'29and30...r. 3 75 Sept. 10, 2 men cutting one day 2 50 Drawing corn b}" teams to silo, 27 hours at 30c. per hour 8 10 Men loading, cutting and tramping in silo, 7 or 8 in all, 108houis at 12k' ^ 13 50 Two-thirds cost of Special Fertilizer — 100 lbs. Sulphate Ammonia... 84 60 400 Ibfe. Capleton Superphosphate at $16 per ton (Mixed and spread first.) 3 20 400 lbs. un leached wood ashes. Ap- plied separately afterwards 1 20 9 00 6 00 Use of engine and cutter, IJ days at $5 6 25 Foreman's wages, supervising work, say 7 50 Eent of land, say 8 00 o5 30 This is equal to about $1.25 per ton. Two-thirds only of the cost of the special fertilizer is charged to this crop, as it is believed that future crops would be benefitted to the extent of the other third ; if the whole be charged this would add nearly six cents per ton to the ^i^ if ,A: ussc-ttf *i>k«7*^.»-; i 14 cost of production. Supposing a silo with a capacity for 100 tons to cost $100, twelve cents per ton might be added to cover interest and depreciation for this item. The waste on 100 tons at the Central Experimental Farm was 2,528 lbs., which would further add about three cents i)er ton, making the total cost $1.40 per ton, or including the full price of the fertilizers, $1.46. No other food so nutritious for the winter feeding of stock can be produced so cheaply as this. The silo, which is divided into two compartments of 16 x 18 feet and high enough to allow of its being filled to a depth of about 18 feet, •each thus capable of holding about 100 tons, was tilled from the 10th to the 20th of September. The corn was cut in lengths of one-half to three-quarters of an inch and well trodden down, especially around the margins, and when filled the surface of one compartment was covered with about a foot of 1520 W 81)0 24 1) 22 111)3 17 303 lit 144<> 11) 1)20 From the results given it would appear that the Thoroughbred White Flint, Long White Flint, Long Yellow Flint, Yellow Button, Large White Flint, Pearce's Prolitic, and Longfellow are the most productive of the Flint varieties, ranging in yield in the order named, and all of them excepting the Long White Flint attained a sufficient degree of maturity to make excellent ensilage. Among the different sorts of Dent corn, none of which, however, mature as well as the Flint varieties, the following have been found to yield the greatest weight of crop: Virginia Horse-tooth, Golden Beauty, Goldeii Dent, Blunt's Prolitic, Mammoth Southern Sweet, and Red Cob Ensilage. Many sorts of sweet corn have given a large j'ield, the mo>t pro- litic being Mammoth Sugar, Cro.sby, Eight-rowed Sugar, Egyptian Sugar, and Asjdum Sweet. The earliest ripening among the.se is the Crosby. h i PART 2. REI^CKT ON TIIK Clieiiiical Composition of ceilain varieties of Iniliaii Com. By FPtAXK T. SlIUTT, M.A., F.T.C., F.C.S. Chemist, Dominion Experimental Farms. OBJECTS OP THE INVESTIOATION. The following work was undertaken with two principal objects in view. First, to ascertain the relative values of certain varieties of Indian corn for fodder purposes; and, secondly, to arrive at a knowledge as to the best time for cutting, whether for the silo or for preservation in the dry condition. Incidentally, however, other points regarding the growth of the corn plant have received eluci- dation, and the information thus gained will, it is hoped, prove of service to the corn grower. VARIETIES ANALYSED. The varieties of corn experimented with are as follows : Queen of the Prairie, Angel of Midnight, Virginia Horsetooth, Golden Beauty, Earl}^ Adams, Long White Flint and Mammoth Southern. They were all cultivated in the same manner, viz., in rows 3 feet apart, and the soil was fairly uniform throughout. The samples taken for analysis were from the crop of 1889, and were cut at two stages of their growth, the first on the 2()th August, and the second on the 19th September. In each case the sample consisted of not less than six average stalks, cut close to the ground. These were subsequently cut in fine pieces and a portion of the thoroughly mixed corn reserved for chemical examination. The stages of growth at which the samples were taken are indicated in the table of analyses. 17 COMPOSITION OP FODDERS. To u right appreciation of the results hercaiter to bo disciiisscil a knowledge of the composition of fodder plants in general is necessary. On pages lid and 117 of the Annual Eeport of the hjxperimenlal Farms for 1890 I have made some remarks on the origin, relative value and functions of the various constituents which make up the composition of fodders. To these pages the reader is therefore refei-red for such explanations regarding the terms albu- minoids, fat, fibre, carbohydrates, &c., as he may require in order to understand the conclusions here stated. INDIAN CORN AND ENSILAGE. In the table that follows will be found in the several columns the data obtained on examination of the samples of Indian corn and ensilage. The two samples of corn ensilage were taken from the silos of the Central Experimental Farm on the dates recorded. Both were in an excellent state of preservation, and mildly acid. The silos were filled indiscriminately with the corn of many varieties grown on the farm, including those analysed. An inspection of the figures and averages in the following table reveals the following facts :■ — 1. That there is a general similarity in the composition of the dry matter of all the corns examined, so that between those cut on the same date no great diffeionce, except in one or two isolated cases, are to be noticed. 2. That the percentage of water in the corn fodder cut 26th August, was considerably greater than that in the samples tak(3n 19th September. This means that the percentage of " dry matter " in the corn of the latter date exceeded that in the corn of 26th August. Thus one ton (2,000 lbs.) of the corn of the later period contains on an average 455 lbs. of dry matter, while the same quantity of that of earlier growth (August 26th) contains but 384'8 lbs. 3. That the percentage of ash in the dry matter decreased materi- ally as the plant matured. 4. That the percentage of albuminoids had decreased slightly in the dry matter during the period of growth between 2Gth August and 19th September. 5. That the percentages of fat, fibre and carbohydrates had in- creased during the same period — the two former, howevoi", not to any marked extent. 2 ia u r m 1 -<_".; '-1 Ir ^Hf' ■' ■■1 .'•i ; mi f h- ii ir-t ■ * 18 9i m w 03 o CO 09 pa £ Cd H . ■'• tj 71 r »-i r. 'M f © «C « ec v-i -r -r .T t- r. r: I't iM r-?i .^ 3':^ ^J if. I;: IS I?^;'*."^ :B i"?: i"* i"^ 1 fj o :2!5 1- o >, i I - r. M .-H X X 5 rt %'-r.%^l'd. i3 2? J? ?ic S ?5 ?) S CM i^ ^1 ^ ?i (?! C'l c^l ri ^S ^1 ?!?. ■tj ?^?5?;s3?s 2 m I-H C» X C-l o r; -r r-i fo iM© ?;•« r^ i-H i-H I— 1 I-H rH F-H ^ w-r .s X c: _ X X ~ I- f-H O t I-H IC o i* Ci X I- d 5 2 ?. SJ? 5-c ~i-~r;c. t-ci ~ i-c. r: x-^ l^X X s; n .«< m tio I 2 o be ecx i-i~5:. y. i;^ l-X(Mf S?i -^ -J -J X 1-1-.-X I- :o © ;s © ■'f :r X i-cs i-xec « M a Ci '■£ T. c-. c-. y:, Ci I— I r-i i—( rH rH rH rH M © « ^ ^ l^ © © C rH X X X X i^XQO CT «D ©«£ ;C © 1^ jg ^C o o o o o bo a. •;3 bcO ^-^^-o a: 03 01 r/i a; b :c h i'; ^H ^ c3 c3 cS e8 HHW WW a> a.C/2 i^bpi S C-S o cS OjS I-. I- © SC 5^ C5 o lb is o w ©-r 'O ir4 i- -O 00 C^ GC 00 QC 50 i^ X ec « X iS -r -f r^ rH ■^ cc © M rj W iM IM W fi N m IM '•^ ^^ i"~ "*■* ^^ N rH © © rH O X X o © l^ 1-. l- 1-. I- © I- ' © © © a.o o o 0 i§5 o o I'VTS'W 'C'V \ in Cu 5CS a be-., >,o.S a 0- +* t- o :t ^ 5 fh OQ O c^ S3 S o o "§?'■ lO 3 a c2 I P3 e3 04 § -t.3 a s s Ph bo a • -^ • r^ s xn C .S a> a. y. u 0^ ■A o a 'E g W ^ M) c o O 3 "3 _o *C be < u O o Si) rc S- • c a -' «« ^ s a 53 ^ Oh ft 'E o 9 CO jk 35 i-^ i^ C5 I I I g gg "-I >-l i-l rH tH 0) o a o a o o 0, « bc^ ^ 3 0) ^ > o a; a> Tl. ^ 21 Tp- This onormouH inoroaHO, in spite of iossonod allmminoids and larger poiToiitai^os of filno, means that some tons pcjr acroof dii^'CMti- lilo food is stored up in the coin plant durin<^ the last stai^i's of its i,M'o\vtli, and points undoubtedly and emphatically to the time lor harvesting the fodder. 2. The decreased porcentago of ash in the dry matter as the corn arrives at maturity shoM's that it is the young ])lant more pai'ticularly that absorbs the mineral constituents from the soil, and ihe same is no doubt true, though not to the same extent perhaps, as regards its nitrogen. This clearly advises that the previous tillage of the soil should be thorough, aud that during the early part of the season especially should the corn be well cultivated and kept free from weeds. 3. Attention has been called to the fact that the albuminoids decrease as the plant matures. This is, periums, but partially cor- rect. The albuminoids are calculated by multiplying the total amount of nitrogen found by 6*25 — as one part of nitrogen is equiva- lent to (j'25 parts of albuminoids. Now, as some of this nitrogen, more particularly in the young plant, exists in the condition of amides, it would be more accurate to state that the amount of nitiogon decreases during mature growth. It is considered that the nitrogen of the amides in the young plants is transformed into that of the more valuable albuminoids as rii)eness approaches. Therefore, though the raaturer plant may contain the loss nitrogen, the loss may be more than compensated for in the increased per- centage of true albuminoids. It is, therefore, the wisestpolicy to allow the corn to reach the glazed condition, especially when wo re- member the tremendous increase of diy matter, of which the albuminoids form a part, as the plant approaches maturity. 4. Fibre may be regarded as the framework of the plant, sup- porting the more tender tissues, and carrying by means of its tubes and vessels the nourishment elaborated by the roots and leaves. After it has been allowed to become dry and hard by over-ripeness, its digestibility is to a large degree impaired. Such change is usually accompanied by alteration in colour — the stem becoming yellow or brown. Want of light and room to grow often cause this discolouration prematurely. Intimately connected with this matter of plant development is that of room — room for the roots and room for the stalks. For a rapid and generous growth of the plant, both are necessary. Plenty of loose soil is required for the roots and rootlets to pene- I,. 1 ; 1 i ■, 'if 5' III I; • ■1 if '* In 00 tmto, thiiH soourini^ an umplo supply of nilro^onoiis and minoijil mjitlor. Siinlii^lit juhI siir art? osstMitialH to a lar^^o dovclopiiuMil (if tlio (larl)ohy(li'atoH. ('rowdini^ to ovor-tliick Ki'odiii«:; will rosiill ill a diiniiiishcd yioltl por acre. DKJESTIHLE MATTKR IN (JHEEN K«H)I)ER. Til table \\\ will l>o found the woii^ht in pounds of tlio digest ililo roiiHtituontH ])ui' ton of the i^rocn fodder and onsihiLfe. Tlieno vvei^htH have heen calculated from the percentage compoHltion of the corns, using the following co-efficients of digestion: — Alhuini.ioidH, 73. Fihrc, 72. Fat, 75. CurbohyflratPH, 07. Referringto the averages given in this table, it will be noticed (hat one ton of green fodder cut Augu^st 2(»th contains 2r)fiin lbs.. while one ton of that cut September 9th contains 297*72 Ibn. of digestible matter, an increase of 41^ lbs. This is principally du, r; /• — •ji ri^ , -J >' i H- u '^ ii a: ;tN ■ N — ^ , a 'jm . 4-) ^ X ,•■• o Pm •f V'. s UJ l-H 6c !< S o «2 t-i tc O •* "^ 1 . — -Jt r j; •/. -Jc © -A '■» - tJ 5*5 S '4 '^ ^ ,-1 *; ^ H « -r ■< r; fi r\ M V\ '*t 7\ U 9\ O -H S c •r ?. ?j • ** ."«? ^ 5 ?;? I^ r" F-^ r-< I— *1 f. ?^ ?! 2 V^: ?. 0) •s o 5 -^ c -f r-. X o t^ -«:^ «-»• T. f\ 'S -t« r ■?! 1- -/. X r. ec 7} T. f-< fi^ »ii» »« ^» tM ^n^ ^^ W^ f-4 «r,S5 ni?i t - ?1 f 1— ' 1'^ • ?v Er; SfTi t- !--i? 5 -i '^. V. ^ A f^ M r^ r-H 1— ■ t- 1-^ ?.^3&ie =fSic •5 .5::? ?.^i?. #.?.X 5 ?^/ ?ii-.'^ — r. ?i .-I I — »! ?1 ffl « fl T M X fC CI I- ^ wc X ul t cj -^ f -2 ?ifi?{S?i? HM n ci X Fi I - M I - CC I - W •.£ -f 'T TO Its i-H I - IS r.^ X O T ^1 « i^ « ri ?i i?j w fi fi ?i ?! ifi 55 ^^ 0 O O C = 0 s> o> Si o» S". c ec l-( I— I l-H i-( i-H i-H W a- o o o o c s a; -a "§) 5 fcc ■ 3 ^1 -o^ o eS"- O S 3 C Hi ?> * s? • C 3 - • -" O c8 O J2 ^ 5 •/. 5t 2'^ I* _. n *J a! «8 C O hi .2 "5 (scS >J ^ .<►. HlH 5 K^K ■^.2 :l • s OiCC X T X ?i ^?5 fO ei ~ hi O *< ^ s C'33-= J^ wW> 3 c.= o c« Si: s ^ '1 1 .! t k ( ' ' ll 1 i 24 ENSILAGE. The exact feeding value of corn ensilage, as compared with that of corn proisorved in the dry condition, has as yet not been positively ascertained. There appears to be plenty of evidence oi. the one hand to support the superiority of dry corn fodder, while on the other hand, from different sources, there seems to be proof positive that the ensilage is the more nutritious of the two. In the process of ensiling a portion of the true albuminoids become converted into compounds supposed to have a lower feeding value, and some of the carbohydrates are transformed into organic acids, while in preserving in the dry condition much of the fibre is rendered indigestible. The silo forms a ready and cheap means of preserv- ing in small compass a large quantity of corn, and when the proper precautions are taken in constructing the silo and protecting the ensilage, there can be but little doubt that this method of storing fodder is an economical one. Chemistry teaches that the one great principle to be remembered and practised in preserving by means of the silo is exclusion of air. The more air-tight the walls of the silo, the closer the cut corn is packed and the more completely it is protected fi'om the air, the better will the ensilage be. Access of air causes fermentation, development of acid, and finally, decay. As the samples of corn ensilage were not composed wholly of the varieties of corn analysed, no strict comparison can be drawn between their composition and that of the corns examined. The percentage of dry matter is slightly lower, and that of the ash somewhat higher than in the corn of September 19th. The albuminoids do not seem to have suffered b}' the process — though possibly to some extent albuminoids here represent amides and other nitrogenous com- pounds. The development of organic acids in fermentation has increased the figures that represent the percentage of fat, since in the process of analysis they are determined largely with the latter ingredient. From the present analyses, and using the same co-efficients of digestion as for corn fodder, it appears that one ton of corn ensilage contains somewhat less (about 10 lbs.) of digestible nutrients than the same weight of the corn cut September 9th. (See table III.) We may, therefore, conclude that between well-preserved ensilage and mature green fodder there exists but little dificrcnce in feed- ing value. that ively one I tho itivu 3ces!s into le of e in iered serv- opcr the •ring lered ^ air. •n is tlie tion, fthe vcen jeof ^her leem :tent 3om- hab ;e in itter ,8 of lage 1 the hige feed-