The Question Box. 35 



Mr. Dardis. — I have raised two big crops of corn in succession 

 on an old night pasture. 



Mr. Smith. — There is enough nitrogen, potash and phos- 

 phoric acid in average soils to grow large crops for a long period 

 of years, but the trouble is, these elements of plant food are 

 locked up so that the plants cannot reach them. There is a lack 

 both of moisture and humus. Both must be present to dissolve 

 and hold these plant foods. As a rule, there is plant food enough 

 in our average soils to supply the needs of our crops, if it can be 

 utilized properly. 



Question. — What do you think of rye, cut for ensilage for sum- 

 mer feeding? 



Mr. Smith. — I do not think much of rye. It is all right to 

 feed when green, about two days; after that time the straw be- 

 comes hard, woody and hollow. Those who have fed it say: 

 " Don't do it." 



Question. — "What is the best crop for soiling in the summer? 



Mr. Smith. — The most value is in good corn ensilage. Build a 

 silo this summer for use next summer, and put in enough com to 

 fill it. "When the milk flow shows signs of falling off, open the silo 

 and begin feeding the contents. You will find it better than any 

 soiling crop you can grow, and it costs less. 



Question. — To what animals may ensilage be fed ? Is it good 

 for horses or growing cattle ? How old must a calf be before it 

 will eat it ? Will it keep through the winter and into the dry 

 season next summer ? Do you use anything but corn to make it ? 

 What does it cost per acre to harvest the corn and put it into the 

 silo ? What distance should it be planted ? What varieties are 

 best ? 



Mr. Woodward. — A calf will eat it as soon as it will eat any 

 other coarse food. We plant it three feet apart one way. Ensilage 

 is a good food for any animal, except I should not feed much of it 

 to a horse. Feed four pounds of ensilage to 100 pounds of sheep. 

 Ensilage will keep indefinitely when it is put into a good, tight silo. 

 It is just as good in June as in January, and is the cheapest food 

 that can be grown on the farm. 



Question. — What variety of corn is best to plant — I want the 

 ripe grain to crib and the stalks to feed dry? 



Mr. Smith. — Evidently the man who wrote this question does 

 not believe in the silo and so prefers to follow the old way of dis- 

 posing of his corn crop. My idea is that he should experiment and 



