MADE BY THE FARM DEPARTMENT. 101 



Excavation |10 00 



Fifty-six perch of stone, at 75 cents a perch 42 00 



Laying stone, at GO cents a perch 33 60 



Ten barrels lime, at $1.10 11 00 



Sand . 3 40 



Four barrels cement, at SI. 45 : 5 80 



Grouting bottom, cementing sides, etc 10 00 



Doors and frames above 30 00 



Plank for covering silo 6 00 



$151 80 



CORN-FODDER GROWX FOR ENSILAGE. 



The land upon which the fodder corn grew is a sandy loam — sand predomi- 

 nating. It had grown a corn crop the previous year, and was clean, but not 

 sufhciently fertilized to produce a large crop. It was put in good condition to 

 receive the seed, and drills marked three and one-half feet apart. June 11th 

 the plat of If acres was planted with the Hathaway dent corn — the variety 

 grown upon the farm for some years. Corn was dropped in the drills and cov- 

 ered by hand, at the rate of one and one-half bushels to the acre. I think less 

 seed would have given a larger yield, as it was too thick to make a large 

 growth. The corn came np well and grew very rapidly, receiving three culti- 

 vations, and being kept free from weeds. In August the severe drouth began 

 to tell upon its growth — the leaves and some of the stalks turning yellow, 

 occasioned by the dry weather and the crowded state of the plants. But few 

 ears formed. I quote from our field notes : July 31st — The ensilage corn is 

 rolling considerably. July 28th — The ensilage corn has been at a stand-still 

 for a week, on account of the extreme dry weather. August 8th — The ensi- 

 lage corn has been shortened a good deal by the dry weather. August 18th — 

 Continued rains. The ensilage corn, though cut short, seems to be making 

 some growth at present. August 26th — The ensilage corn is again nearly at 

 a stand-still, owing to the dry weather. That the dry weather shortened the 

 crop was plainly evident. 



FILLING THE SILO. 



We began cutting the corn and filling the silo on Monday, Sept. 13th. The 

 most of the stalks were green and full of juice at this time. On some parts of 

 the plot some stalks were browned and the lowt r leaves dried, but to no great 

 extent. A two-horse tread-power and our ordinary stalk-cutter, made at Ful- 

 ton, N. Y., were used. A one-horse cart, and a double team and Avagon drew 

 the corn to the silo, which was only a few rods distant. The work was mainly 

 done by students, who only work three hours in the afternoon, and so no full 

 day's work was performed. On Wednesday, the 15th, it rained, and the cut 

 fodder was somewhat wet, and some'corn was cut while the water was dripping 

 from it. On Thursday, the 16th, Ave finished the cutting. The corn, cut in 

 pieces about one-half inch in length, was run directly to the silo, Avhere it was 

 spread and tramped doAvn as conif^actly as possible. Nothing Avas mixed with 

 the fodder, and no other crop but corn was put in the silo. We cut at the rate 

 of two tons an hour, I think, and we found the tread-poAver to answer a very 

 good purpose. AVith a large machine more power Avould be needed, but tAventy 

 tons a day Avorks it up quite as rapidly as most farmers Avill desire. Farmers 



