In an earlier communication on this subject(1), the writers arrived at the conclusion that the main reason for the comparative failure of attempts to grow maize as a silage crop in this country was due in large measure to the general use of the late maturing variety, American Horse Tooth. It was predicted that success would probably depend on discovering a variety of maize which is able to reach the desirable stage of maturity under English conditions before being cut for the silo. Preliminary trials had indicated that the necessary qualities might be found in certain varieties like Saltzer's North Dakota, Longfellow, Compton's Early and White Cap, all of which mature at least a month before American Horse Tooth.

Experiments have been described which had primarily as their object the investigation of the effect of varying moisture content in the green oat and tare crop on the type of silage produced from such forage. The magnitude of the changes affecting the constituents of the green crop under the different conditions of ensilage have also been detailed.The main conclusions are summarized below:

It has been shown that maize silage of good quality can be produced with losses of dry matter which are not necessarily much greater than those which characterise the production of oat and tare silage.Excessive drainage of juice consequent on immaturity of crop contributes materially to the total loss of dry matter.The main reason for the comparative failure of attempts in this country to produce maize silage successfully from the points of view of quality and economy lies probably in the general use of the late maturing variety, American Horse Tooth. Success will probably depend on growing a variety of maize which is able to reach a desirable stage of maturity under English conditions before being cut for the silo. Preliminary trials have indicated that the necessary qualities may be found in certain varieties like Saltzer's North Dakota, Longfellow, Compton's Early and White Cap, all of which mature at least a month before American Horse Tooth.

In 1883 Mr George Fry, F.L.S. described a series of observations which he had made upon silage. From these he drew the conclusion that if the conditions of silage making were such that the temperature exceeded 45° C. sweet brown silage resulted, but that if the temperature failed to rise above 40° C. then sour silage with a rather repulsive odour was produced. These results were obtained in the type of silos then commonly in use, which varied in depth generally between 12 and 18 feet, frequently had a considerable surface area and were filled comparatively slowly.

The question of the composition of sugar beet tops and their utilisation for feeding purposes has been dealt with in a recent publication (l). The purpose of the present communication is to record the results of investigations into the problem of the preservation of sugar beet tops by the method of ensilage. The account falls naturally under four headings:I. Ensilage of sugar beet tops alone.II. Ensilage of sugar beet tops mixed with wheat chaff.III. Ensilage of sugar beet tops mixed with wet sugar beet pulp.IV. Nutritive value, as determined by digestion trials on sheep, of the silage obtained from the mixture of tops and pulp.