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The paper reports a study of the chemical composition of 25400 grass silages produced in England and Wales, of which 1040 were from the period 1961–63, 17900 (15480 clamped and 2420 baled) were from 1982–88 and 6460 (5640 clamped and 820 baled) were from 1992–93. A sample of each silage had been analysed for dry matter (DM), pH, crude protein (CP) and volatile N and in most cases for ash.The baled silages were drier on average than the clamped silages, with a wider spread of DM contents. The clamped silages with the lowest pH on average were those with a DM content of c. 240 g/kg; clamped silages wetter than this were progressively higher in pH with reduction in DM content; clamped and baled silages drier than 240 g/kg were progressively higher in pH with increase in DM content, up to pH 5·9 in baled silages of 580 g DM/kg. At a given DM content pH was on average 0·6 units higher in baled than in clamped silages. The ash content of baled silages was similar to that of clamped silages. There was an increase in the mean CP content of clamped silages between 1961–63 and 1992–93 and a reduction in the proportion of CP which was volatile. The relationship between DM and volatile N as a proportion of total N was a curve rather than a straight line, with the steepest part of the curve at the lower end of the DM range. The wet silages harvested in 1961–63 were particularly high in volatile N. At a given DM content in the range 170–320 g/kg, volatile N was rather higher in baled than in clamped silages in both 1982–88 and 1992–93. Clamped silages with a DM content of at least 250 g/kg and baled silages with a DM content of at least 310 g/kg were typically well preserved in the sense of having

1. Four varieties of marrow stem kale, three of thousand headed kales, Hungry Gap Kale and Rape-Kale were grown at three centres in mid-Wales. They were sampled in the early winter period and separate leaf and stem samples analysed for the proximate constituents and minerals.2. Leaf to stem ratios were measured on both a green and dry matter basis and the latter values used to calculate whole plant values for the chemical constituents.3. The leaves of the marrow stem kales were higher in dry matter than the stems, except in the case of the Purple Stem Kale. This variety resembled the thousand headed and rape-type kales in having a higher dry matter in the stems. On a dry matter basis, the leaves of all the varieties were richer than the stems in ether extract, crude protein, total ash and all the minerals except potassium and sodium. These elements occurred to a greater extent in the stems of the fleshy stemmed marrow stem kales than in the leaves. The stems were higher in crude fibre and nitrogen-free extractives.4. The leaves of the rape-type kales were higher than those of the other varieties in silica, phosphorus and potassium. They were the best source of phosphorus on a whole plant basis. The marrow stem kales had considerably higher leaf and stem values for sodium and were markedly superior to the other varieties as a source of the element.

1. Five varieties of thousand-headed kale, grown in singled and unsingled plots, were sampled three times during the winter at monthly intervals. The plants were divided into leaf, top half of the stem and bottom half. Dry matter, the proximate constituents and minerals were determined in the samples.2. The differences in the composition of the leaf and stem of the plant were similar to those found previously and the top half of the stem was intermediate in composition between the leaf and the bottom half of the stem for all the constituents except potassium.3. The proportions of the various constituents occurring in the three portions of the plant were calculated and considered in terms of the incomplete utilization of the crop by grazing animals.4. There were significant increases in the percentage of dry matter in all three portions of the plant as the season advanced. The only other significant changes in composition with advancing season were in the leaf in which the levels of crude protein, crude fibre, ash, calcium, phosphorus and sulphate varied.5. Singling the crop had no significant effects on its composition, but there was a tendency for the stems of the singled crop to be lower in crude fibre and higher in crude protein and several of the minerals.6. There were very few differences in the composition of the varieties. They were mainly due to the higher mineral levels in one variety.7. Samples of the two halves of the stem of thousand-headed kale were divided into their main tissues, e.g. rind, xylem and marrow. These were analysed in the same manner as the samples in the main investigation. The results were used in an attempt to explain the effects of singling, advancing season and variety in terms of different ratios of these tissues.

1. Four varieties of marrow stem kale in the first season, and thirteen in the second, were sampled on three occasions during the first half of the winter. Intervals between samplings were up to 1 month. The plants in the samples were divided into leaf, top half of the stem, and bottom half. The levels of dry matter, proximate constituents and minerals were determined in each sample.2. The differences in composition between the three main fractions of the plant were highly significant for all the chemical constituents, except magnesium. The values for the chemical constituents in the top half of the stem were intermediate between those of the leaf and the bottom half of the stem for most constituents; it had the lowest values for dry matter and the highest for potassium and phosphorus. The distribution of chemical constituents between the whole stem and the leaf were similar to those reported previously.

1. The effects of annual applications of 0–12 cwt. per acre of sulphate of ammonia on the herbage levels and yields of sulphate sulphur and total sulphur were investigated in four seeds mixtures 1 year and 4 years after seeding down.2. There were significant increases in the levels and yields of both forms of sulphur up to the 2 or 4 cwt. per acre level of application in both years. The maximum values occurred at the 6 or 8 cwt. level and the corresponding values at the 12 cwt. per acre rate of application declined in many cases.3. The cumulative effects of the annual dressings of sulphate of ammonia resulted in substantial increases of approximately 50% in the levels of sulphate sulphur and total sulphur with much smaller increases in the levels of non-sulphate sulphur.4. Duplicate plots which received 2, 4 and 6 cwt. per acre of sulphate of ammonia also received an additional 2 cwt. per acre immediately after the first cut each year. This splitting of the dressings had no significant effect on the accumulation of sulphur by any seeds mixture. A second cut from the cocksfoot plots in the first year showed the sulphur levels in the plots which received the additional sulphate of ammonia to have increased less than the levels in those which received only the initial dressing. This was explained in terms of the yields of the components.5. There was a tendency for the rye-grass mixture to contain more sulphate than the other mixtures particularly in the fourth year.6. The possible significance of the increases found in sulphate levels in the copper-molybdenum metabolism of grazing animals is discussed.

1. Three varieties of giant rape, two broad leaved Essex rapes, Hungry Gap Kale and Rape-Kale, were grown at two centres in mid-Wales. They were sampled in the early winter period and the samples divided into separate leaf and stem samples. These samples were used to calculate leaf to stem ratios on a green and dry-matter basis.2. The levels of the proximate constituents, silica, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chlorine, total sulphur, sulphate sulphur and ‘organic’ sulphur were determined in the dried samples. Whole plant values were calculated from the leaf and stem values with the appropriate leaf to stem ratios.3. The leaf values for ether extract, crude protein, silica-free ash, silica, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chlorine, total sulphur and ‘organic’ sulphur are higher than the corresponding stem values. For dry matter, crude fibre, nitrogen-free extractives and sodium the reverse is found, whilst for sulphate sulphur there is no definite distribution.4. There are no significant differences in composition between the main groups of varieties, and the rape-type kales are very similar to the other rapes in this respect.

1. Four varieties of marrow stem kale, three of thousand headed kale, Hungry Gap Kale, Rape-Kale and five other rape varieties were sampled at two centres in mid-Wales and separate leaf and stem samples analysed for manganese, molybdenum and boron. Similar samples of four varieties of marrow stem kale, two of thousand headed kale, Hungry Gap Kale, Rape-Kale and two other varieties of rape were taken from two further centres and prepared with the most stringent precautions to prevent contamination. Iron, copper, zinc and lead were determined in these samples.

1. Ten manurial treatments were applied annually to cattle cabbage grown in a six-course rotation for 7 years. Samples were taken in the early winter each year, and from five harvests taken at fortnightly intervals in the last year.2. The dry-matter yields each year closely followed the weather conditions during the growing season. There was no significant fall in the dry-matter yield during the last season. The treatments supplying phosphorus or phosphorus and potassium substantially increased yield, but the application of nitrogen did not.3. The application of nitrogen, potassium or phosphorus increased the levels of these constituents in the crop in practically all cases. The application of phosphorus produced hearted plants which contained significantly less dry matter than the openleavod plants produced in its absence. The levels of ether extract, crude fibre, ash, silica and magnesium wore not significantly affected by the manorial treatments.4. There was little variation in composition as the season advanced except for significant increases in the crude-fibre levels and decreases in the nitrogen-free extractives levels.5. The distribution of the chemical components was investigated in the outer leaves, heart leaves and stem of the plant. This was compared with that in the marrow-stem kales.6. The chemical composition of the cattle cabbage compares fairly closely with that found for the marrow-stem kales grown under similar conditions. It is, however, lower in dry matter, crude fibre, magnesium and chlorine. It may be considered as a replacement for marrow-stem kale as a source of crude protein and all the major minerals except chlorine and possibly magnesium.