112 THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL 



in 120 pounds of ensilage and five pounds of cotton seed meal 

 per cow ; it was eaten without waste and with apparent relish. 



We tabulate below the yield of milk for 13 weeks. It must be 

 i-emembered that during the first period all four cows received 

 the same ration ; that during the second and third periods cows I 

 and 'II received the same as during the first ; that cows III and 

 IV were fed during the second period with an unusually rich 

 ration, and during the third period with one made up of ensilage 

 and cotton seed meal alone, containing however an amount of 

 food equal to that fed during the first period. 



I. II. III. IV. 



Tyrs. old. 9 yrs. old. 6 yrs. old. 6 yrs. old. 



Calved Calved Calved Calved 



July 15. Oct. 8. Oct. 23. Oct. 10. 



• lbs. Ib8. lbs. lbs. 



Average daily yield for 1st period, 23.5 25.1 25.6 24.1 



" " " ''2d " 25.2 26.1 24.9 24. 



" " •' "3d •' 25.2 23.2 23.8 24. 



" 91 days, 24.6 24.8 24.8 24. 



An opportunity is here ofiered to call attention to the fact that 

 up to a certain point the yield of milk may be influenced by the 

 quantity of digestible food, but beyond this point, which is deter- 

 mined by breed, time of calving and individual peculiarity, an 

 increased amount of food fails to increase the yield of milk ; ensi- 

 lage can produce no more milk than any other fodder which con- 

 tains an equal amount of food, a point well illuetrated by the 

 above table. 



While the yield of milk and its per centage of butter cannot be 

 increased at will, it is Avell known that its quality may be very 

 materially influenced by the feeding. It is claimed for ensilage , 

 that it makes " Winter butter equal to June butter." A claim 

 willingly admitted, butter made from the fodder being to our 

 knowledge of unusually fine color and flavor. 



The composition of ensilage is by no means constant, as the 

 following table of analyses shows : soil, variety of corn, method of 

 planting and cultivating, and above all the time of harvesting, 

 exert a decided influence on its quality. 



The samples furnished by ^Mr. Piatt and Messrs. Wliitman & 

 l)urrill had the characteristic vinous smell which indicated that 

 they had been exposed to the air before reaching the laboratory — 

 and probably an analysis of a perfect sample would have indicated 

 a larger amount of nutritive matter. From personal observation 

 at the silo we know that Mr. Piatt's ensilage was as well preserved 

 as any we have seen. 



