248 EXPERIMENT STATION— BULLETINS. 



23. I know of no other way that so great an amount of fodder can be stored 

 in a given space, and preserved for animal food, as by placing it in a silo and 

 the feed is eaten with more avidity and quite satisfactory results to both ani- 

 mal and owner. 



24. I think the ensilage system is now so well established that the silo need 

 no longer be looked upon as an experiment, and in connection with live stock 

 growing it cannot with good economy be dispensed with. 



SAMUEL L. PULLER, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 



1. Three years since — summer of 1887. 



2. Of grout — 32x70x16 ft. deep — built from the surface, with cement bot- 

 tom on the level with stable floors ; walls one foot thick at bottom and nine 

 inches at top, divided into four compartments, 16x30, inside measure ; 

 entrance by 4 ft. doors in end opposite stable. Doors continue through the 

 silos so as to enable feeding by a car holding 30 bushels and run on a 4x4 

 inch tramway from silos through stable. The cross walls, 30 ft. long, with 

 door in middle, are not heavy enough. Would build of lumber another time, 

 it would be better. 



3. Corn only, in different stages of dryness, but the best just before frost, 

 say Sept. 10. 



4. Have only used the "B and W," a large Southern corn, successfully. 

 Am not sure it is best. It is late; only bearing roasting ears at best. 



5. Have ensilaged field corn that had cured in the shock, but have not 

 made more than a partial success of it. It has not kept as well as the green 

 stalks. The corn was fed without knowing anything about the amount fed, 

 and taken together, the ensilage cured corn has not been a success, not the 

 fault of the corn, perhaps. 



6. One kernel to four inches, Some stalks will bear an ear, many will not. 



7. Try to escape frost. 



8. Never weighed but one-eighth of an acre, that yield was at rate of 

 61,500 lbs. per acre, an enormous yield. Stalks many of them 15 ft. high 

 and large in proportion. 



9. Answered above. 



10. Never ; I cannot imagine any gain in putting it in whole, unless on a 

 small scale. 



11. Fill with teams and men enough to keep the cutting-box running, but 

 no over work or over hours. It is more profit to push the work. The best 

 rule is to work to most profit. The poorest ensilage we have ever had was 

 good enough for us. Have never tried to get sweet ensilage, so called. The 

 cattle seem delighted with all kinds. 



12. The tighter it is packed, the better, particularly about the sides and 

 corners. 



13. Have covered wi^h two-inch plank a little less in length than the 

 width of the silo, silo 16 ft. wide, plank scant 16 ft., so that in settling the 

 plank will not bind on the side. Cover the cracks with boards and put 18 to 

 24 inches in depth of seasoned wood on top. Wood is easy to handle and 

 when removed can be drawn where you want it. 



14. Have weighted cured stalks too little. Plenty of weight does no harm 

 on any ensilage. 



15. Don't ask a farmer what a thing costs. One year the entire expense 



