284 BuiiEAU OF Faiuiiciis' Institutes. 



Will it iuiprovo llie value oi' ensilage to allow the corn to Avilt, a day 

 or two, before cutting it into the silo? 



Prof. Cavanaugb. — Are there any farmers here who have tried 

 the plan? 



A Farmer. — I have. I allow it to lie and wilt a little, then cut 

 it into the silo. It was a success. 



Mr. Litchard. — Such a plan is all right unless a rain falls, and 

 if there are no yellow leaves in the corn; but, if a rain falls while 

 the corn is lying in bundles, it will surely injure it. What is 

 wanted in corn ensilage is succulence. So, if we allow the corn 

 to wilt or dry, we lose much of that element. 



Would you advise the treading of ensilage, solid or not, in a silo? 

 Mr. Cook. — Ensilage needs only a reasonable amount of pressure, 

 and it should be evenly distributed. As a rule, the heavier por- 

 tion falls directly under the carrier, so that it should be carefully 

 spread over the entire surface. If the silo is tight, when the en- 

 silage is well spread, but little treading is needed. But one may 

 tread it too much. 



Does ensilage injure the flavor of milli? Will it impart bad flavor to it? 



Mr. Cook. — If the ensilage is not well grown and preserved, I 

 will say yes. Or, if the silo is not tight, thus allowing the en- 

 silage to mold, the same result will ensue. But when the condi- 

 tions are all right the only flavor which ensilage will impart is a 

 good one. 



Have you ever heard of an authentic case like the following clipping: 

 " J. B. Bristol of Westfield, has just lost two valuable horses. The cause 

 of their death is supposed to be due to eating ensilage. Mr. Bristol has a 

 silo which he fills each year with green cornstalks, which are cut and 

 made into ensilage. He fed some to his horses with fatal results. One 

 was sick only a few hours; the other was sick four days. He valued the 

 team at $300." 



Mr. Cook. — I remember back, eight or ten years ago, in the early 

 days of ensilage feeding, when it was reported that several 

 horses near Rhinebeck had died from eating ensilage. I have 

 never heard of a case of this kind since, until I read this. 



Mr. Moore. — One of my neighbors lost a horse from eating en- 

 silage, but he fed him so much that it caused colic. 



