The Question Box. 283 



Which is the better way to plant ensilage corn, in drills one way or in 

 <'heck rows in hills? 



Mr. Cook. — We have practiced both ways. There is not much 

 difference in results. When the ground is grassy, check rows are 

 best. If not, I would plant in drills one way. 



Mr. Converse. — I have never seen but one silo that was hooped 

 with the Page fence. That was at Cornell, but it was not, in my 

 •opinion, keeping the ensilage just right. 



Can a silo 24-feet deep be successfully filled with a two-horse tread- 

 power ? 



Mr. Kogers. — I will say that, in my opinion, one would be los- 

 ing money and time in trying to cut ensilage and elevate it twenty- 

 four feet with a two-horse tread power. Use an engine instead. 



What malces my ensilage spoil around the inside walls of the silo? 



Mr. Cook. — Possibly the silo is not airtight and air gets in at 

 the sides of it. Or it may be caused by improperly filling the 

 «ilo. The ensilage should be kept highest on the outside, next the 

 walls, and be well trodden. If it is kept highest in the center, 

 when it settles there, it will draw away from the walls, thus 

 allowing the air to get in. Keep the surface of the ensilage in 

 <'oncave shape, about like that of the inside of a saucer. 



What about the stone silo? 



Mr. Cook. — There is nothing about it, except that you don't 

 want one. The first silo I ever saw was a stone one, and the 

 next spring after it was filled the first time, one-half the ensilage 

 in it was drawn out and thrown away. It was rotten and worth- 

 less. If you are going to build a silo make it of wood. It will 

 not cost a fourth as much as will a stone one and the ensilage will 

 not mold if it is in the proper stage when put in and is properly 

 packed. 



Is sorghum a good and profitable crop to raise for green feed and for 

 ensilage? Where can the seed be obtained? 



Mr. Cook. — The seed may be obtained of any of the large seed 

 dealers or of the western growers, but I would not plant it. It 

 was experimented with considerably some years since, in various 

 parts of the State, but it was abandoned, it having been found 

 that corn was much better for a soiling or ensilage crop. 



