The Question Box. 27 



So, then, neither " Pride of the North " nor any other variety of 

 corn, whether " cured in the shock " or put into the silo, would be 

 a balanced ration for a dairv cow. 



Question. — What do you think about picking off some of the 

 ears on heavy ensilage corn? 



Mr. Lillie. — It has been proved time and again that it does not 

 pay to pick some .of the ears from ensilage corn. It is much better 

 to cut it all into the silo. If it is very rich in corn, feed a smaller 

 quantity of the ensilage. It costs too much to go through a field of 

 ensilage corn, pick off a part of the ears and husk them. 



Mr. Smith. — Add a little gluten feed to balance such ensilage. 

 It will help, wonderfully. I should not pick off the surplus ears 

 from the corn. 



Question. — Will ears of corn lose any food value by being put 

 into the silo? 



Mr. Smith. — Yes ; but not as much as iis lost when the ears are 

 allowed to ripen and then husked. Corn's greatest value is when 

 the kernel is in the dough stage. Experiments at Cornell showed 

 there was $14 value in an acre of corn when in tassel stage; when 

 it reached the silk stage there was a value of $28 ; but, when in the 

 dough stage, $42. There is quite a per cent, in favor of the silo, 

 as between ensilage corn and dry corn stalks, and well-preserved, 

 properly-grown ensilage. 



Question. — Does the freezing of ensilage injure it? 



Dr. Smead. — No. If ensilage freezes a few inches on the 

 outer edge, rake it into the center of the silo and allow it to thaw 

 out. If you will insert a thermometer a foot into the ensilage in the 

 center of a silo, you will find the temperature from 50° to 70°, 

 so that the frozen ensilage will quickly thaw out. But little, if 

 any loss will result from the small quantity frozen. 



Question. — At what season should corn be cut for ensilage ? 



Mr. Puce. — Experiments made with corn cut when it was in 

 the tassel, silk and dough stage, showed three times as much value 

 in the last cutting than the first one contained. This increased 

 value was in sugar and starch, all made after the tassels appeared. 

 There was not much of any increase in the volume of the stalks, 

 after the tassel stage, so that when the corn is in the dough stage, 

 which is just before it glazes, more feeding value will be got from 

 it than when cut before or at a later time. But, remember, corn 

 is a sun plant and will not grow in its own shade, nor in that of a 

 tree or building. Plant it thinly enough so that at least one good 

 ear will develop on a stalk. 



