120 EXPERIMENTS WITH ENSILAGE. 



ENSILAGE A CHEAP SUBSTITUTE FOR ROOTS. 



I am more than ever convinced that the idea I suggested two years ago that 

 ensilage "will prove a cheap substitute for roots, will be approved by any farmer 

 who will make the trial. Farmers who have had experience in feeding stock 

 know how desirable it is to have some succulent food as a part ration at least, 

 during our long cold winters. Eoots are a desirable cattle food, but an expen- 

 sive crop for the average farmer to raise and handle. But few farmers have 

 the facilities for storing them in any quantity. They must be buried in the 

 field ; and in the winter with the thermometer below zero, digging out the roots 

 and getting them to the stock is not a desirable task. If ensilage will give us 

 the succulent food at less cost, in shape to be easily handled and occupying but 

 a small .'pace in storage, it must j^rove of value. What are the farmers in 

 Michigan to do with the coarse fodders raised on our farms, but to feed them. 

 They are too bulky to transport to market— they must help make beef and 

 mutton, but the farmer needs something to feed in connection with them to 

 make them of more value, and the ensilage will help out in this direction. 



The large number of silos erected during the last year in all parts of our 

 country, indicates that ensilage has the sanction of a number of our leading 

 ;f armors, and that actual tests confirm reasonable claims as to its value as a cat- 

 •.tle food. The farmers of Great Britain, too, are greatly interested in this 

 isubject, and it has received the favorable attention of some of the leading 

 English aoriculturists. 



To Mr. AVill E. Hale, class of '83, I am under obligations for most careful 

 ;and ctiicient aid in the carrying out of these experiments. 



Kespectfully submitted, 



SAM'L JOHNSON, 

 Prof, of Practical Agriculture and Supt. of the Farm. 



Agricultural College, June 8, 1883. 



