36 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



find out for himself. We cannot tell him what variety of corn or 

 other crops to grow, because we do not know his conditions. It is 

 one of the questions we cannot answer. 



Question. — What kind of corn is best for ensilage in this local- 

 ity, Delaware county? 



Richmond Garrison. — We have always thought until last year 

 the Early Mastodon was best for us, but last season, by the advice 

 of John Gould, given at the institute here a year ago, Ave tried 

 what is known as Turner's White ensilage corn, and find that a bet- 

 ter variety, judging by one season's trial. 



- Question. — Does ripe corn lose in feeding value by being put 

 in the silo? 



Mr. Cook. — If the silo is made tight, I believe there will not be 

 a loss of more than five per cent. Under unfavorable conditions, 

 there may be a loss as high as 25 per cent. 



Question. — Will ensilage spoil milk for condensing? 



Mr. Cook. — Good ensilage, as a partial ration, when properly 

 fed, will make good condensed milk. I cannot understand why the 

 condensaries do not take milk from cows that are fed ensilage, only 

 for the fact that some will feed poor ensilage, and feed it either 

 immediately before, or at the time the milking is being done. I 

 should feed ensilage, if I had to dispose of my milk in some other 

 way. 



Mr. Barlow. — Whenever I have made ensilage milk into butter 

 for market, or shipped my milk to New York, my customers have 

 wanted more, which I take to be good evidence that the ensilage 

 does not injure the quality. 



Question. — What causes blue mold in a good, tight, well-built 

 silo? 



Mr. Woodward. — The cause is too ripe or dry corn when it was 

 put into the silo. There was not enough dampness in the ensilage. 

 If ensilage becomes sour, it was cut when too green ; if it rots, it is 

 because the air gets into the silo. 



Question. — Which is better for corn, old ground plowed in the 

 fall or sod plowed just before planting? 



Mr. Gould. — It is a question of locality. If ground is frozen 

 all winter, fall plowing is all right. We always plow in spring, 

 as our winters are so open. We plow our sod at least 20 days 

 before planting, that decomposition may begin. Work the land 

 thoroughly to kill all weeds. 



