FARM DEPARTMENT. _ 265 



Cutting and shocking one and one-half acres at $1. 00 $1 50 



Husking 106 bushels ears and cribbing same at four cents... — 4 24 



Drawing 5,975 pounds of corn stalks to barn 1 50 



Cutting of same at 75 cents per ton 2 25 



Drawing two loads of corn to mill, and meal home 2 50 



To crushing and grinding 5,310 pounds of corn at 10 cents per 100.. 5 31 



Total cost $17 30 



The cost of one and one-half acres of corn, or 12£ tons of ensilage, in 

 silo at 70 cents $8 75 



Which would leave a balance of $8.55 in favor of ensilage. 



The labor of feeding the ensilage all prepared and mixed will be much 

 less than in feeding the dried fodder. Some who favor the dried fodder 

 may object to the expense involved in cutting. If the fodder should be fed 

 long and the grain unground, even then the cost would be only $1.00 less 

 per acre than the ensilage. There are few feeders who would consider it 

 economical to feed the corn in the ear. 



COMPARATIVE TEST OF VARIETIES OF ENSILAGE CORN. 



Comparative test of varieties to determine their value for ensilage. 



Those who have been most successful in making good ensilage prefer a 

 variety of corn that produces both a large amount of good fodder and ears 

 in the roasting stage or just beginning to glaze. 



Several varieties, recommended for ensilage, were planted for the purpose 

 of determining which, in our climate and on our soil, most perfectly com- 

 bined these two points. 



The soil, a sandy loam, was thoroughly prepared for the crop. 



On May 19, 1888, the following varieties were planted in drills 3 feet 9 

 inches apart: Deitz Golden Yellow, Golden Beauty, White Giant Normandy, 

 Breck's Boston Market, Wisconsin AVhite Dent, Learning Yellow Dent, 

 Chester County Mammoth, Southern Ensilage, Parish White Dent. Owing 

 to unavoidable delay in receiving the seed, the Burrell and Whitman was 

 planted some two weeks later than the other varieties, as was also Sweet's, 

 the seed of which was obtained from Hon. M. L. Sweet, of Grand Rapids, who 

 has grown it several years and found it an excellent variety. The weeds were 

 kept down by thorough cultivation during the entire growing season. 



The yield of corn was lessened by the severe drought, prevalent a good part 

 of the season. The following notes, made during the growing season, will 

 aid in giving some idea of the habits of growth of each variety. 



Deitz Golden Yellow. 



June 20. — Has not made rapid growth; has a good stand; the leaves are 

 ong, narrow and good color. 

 June 28. — Seventeen inches high. 

 July 2. — Height of two feet. 



July 23. — About five feet high ; has made an even growth. The stalks are 

 medium size and well leaved. 



