State Dairy Association. 411 



enough to pay the added cost. Proving conclusively that it is pos- 

 sible to produce on our farm a ration that will accomplish the 

 results so much desired by dairymen — a full milk pail, with small 

 outlay. Have tried feeding silage to calves and hogs, as well as 

 to horses, and find they all take to it, not only kindly, but with great 

 relish. 



My friend, Mr. Shields, of Eureka, Mo., is feeding at this time 

 a herd of 40 heifers on nothing but corn silage, with wheat straw 

 for roughness ; calves showing healthy and growthy condition. 



A visit to Dr. Crowley's 'horse farm, at Allenton, Mo., found 

 them feeding silage, composed of one-half green oats and one-half 

 cowpeas, and was assured by the Doctor, who is a scientific and 

 painstaking gentleman, that the brood mares and colts had been 

 easier to take care of and keep in healthy condition on this feed 

 than on the ordinary hay and grain, and for horses he has found 

 silage the nfost economical and best way of feeding. 



I have previously suggested that in feeding silage to dairy 

 cows, there might be danger of contamination by odors or flavors 

 being taken up in the milk; if such has been the case in other 

 dairies, I believe the cause can be laid to improper feeding, or not 

 feeding at the proper time. My rule is to feed after the milking 

 hour, when all the milk has been removed to the cooling room. 

 We all know the susceptibility of milk, and know that its surround- 

 ings must be clean, pure and sweet to prevent contamination. 

 Therefore, in my opinion, cows should never be fed any food from 

 which odors are likely to arise just before or during milking, and 

 that all troughs and feeding alleys should be clean and free from 

 anything like decayed matter or refuse. 



The production of certified milk requires the most careful at- 

 tention in this matter, and should be the rule with everyone milk- 

 ing a cow. Have had no experience with other than straight corn 

 silage, and the corn being used so far is the ordinary St. Charles 

 white corn, planted in the ordinary way. Some checked, some 

 drilled, planting three feet eight inches in row, 15-inch drill. This 

 allows plenty of sunlight and air, and in ordinary corn weather, 

 assures a healthy, strong growth and well eared corn, which I find 

 makes the best silage. This method of planting should produce 

 from 12 to 15 tons per acre. I find the proper time to cut and store 

 is after the grain has become well glazed or in the dent, perhaps 

 more plainly speaking, about two weeks before corn would be right 

 to be put in the shocks. 



