29G BuKEAU OF FAiniKRs' Institutes. 



No answer. 



Mr. Cook. — I do not know anything about it, Laving never fed 

 ensilage to sheep. 



Mr. Talman. — I have not fed ensilage to sheep in summer, but 

 I do not see why it could not be done, lie also said that he had 

 seen a flock of sheep that had been fed on ensilage alone during 

 the winter and that they came out fat, only a tenth of corn meal 

 was required to " finish them off " for market. 



No one answered the question, but three or four farmers said 

 they had fed ensilage to sheep in winter with highly satisfactory 

 results. 



"What is ensilage feed valued at and its cost? 



Mr. Cooper. — It would depend on the quality of the ensilage. It 

 is worth from $2 to |3 per ton when the corn is fully matured. 



Mr. Converse. — It may be raised for |1.50 per ton, depending, 

 however, on circumstances — such as j'ield. I would use the 

 largest variety of corn that will mature. Mx experience is that 

 we can ripen any of the largest varieties of dent corn in 100 days. 

 If we give proper cultivation, we may advance the ripening period 

 of at least 10 days. Some farmers advise the raising of the 

 larger flint varieties because they ripen earlier than do the dents. 

 But as a rule, when the crop is put in early enough, and the 

 proper cultivation given, we find no difficulty in maturing any of 

 the dents such as '' Pride of the North " or " Leaming." 



■ti- 



ls it better to feed sowed corn in the dry stalk or feed in the form 

 of ensilage, for making winter millc? 



Mr. Ward. — I suppose that means sowed corn. I would never 



put sweet corn in that way. It were better to plant it in rows, 



three feet and a half apart. We use Stowell's Evergreen for that 



purpose, and plant about 14 quarts of seed per acre. If I had such 



sowed corn I would allow it to dry a little, then put it into the 



silo. 



Could a man afford to borrow $100 to expend in building a silo? 



Mr. Cook. — Yes; if he has a dairy that will consume the con- 

 tents of such a silo. The interest on that sum would not be much, 

 while the silo would enable him to keep two or three more cows. 

 I believe it will pay one to borrow the money to build one. 



