294 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



At what length would you cut ensilage? Is It best to shred It? 



Mr. Converse. — We have tried various lengths, from half an 

 inch to two inches. Half an inch we think best. It spreads more 

 evenly and compactly than does that cut longer. Shredded en- 

 silage has no particular advantage over that which ifi cut ofif 

 fihort, while the cost is more because of an increased price of 

 motive power. 



If you were feeding ensilage once a day and timothy hay twice a day, 

 what grains would you feed to balance the ration? 



Mr. Smith. — Both foods are carbonaceous. We should always 

 consider cost. I would try protein foods — wheat, bran, gluten, 

 dried brewers' grains or malt sprouts. These are protein foods, 

 which should be added to the others, to make a balanced ration. 

 Send to Geneva, and get the bulletins which treat on these feed- 

 ing questions. 



What effect would bean meal have on ensilage? 



Mr. Gould. — ^While in Maine I was told that bean meal, up to 

 two or three pounds per day, make a good ration for milch cows. 



Mr. Eastman. — In feeding bean meal alone with ensilage, the 

 cows are liable to scour; we want some bran with it. 



Some factorymen claim that if every dairyman fed ensilage, a good 

 article of butter and cheese could not be made. Is the statement true? 



Mr. Cook. — Not with us; I can make as good butter or cheese, 

 if not better, from ensilage properly balanced than from any 

 other foods; and that is the verdict of all our best creameries or 

 cheese factories in the State. 



J. F. Converse. — If ensilage is what it should be, it is just as 

 wholesome and as healthful as any clover ever cut; but, there is 

 now and then a farmer who feeds moldy ensilage which effects the 

 milk, and there are some men who have abandoned their siloes be- 

 cause they were not properly constructed or the corn was not 

 properly grown or ensiloed; but the masses who grow and feed 

 ensilage are not abandoning their siloes or ensilage; on the con- 

 trary, the number of siloes hereabout is increasing each year. 

 The prejudice is more against those who feed ensilage than 

 against the ensilage. 



