920 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



"The effect of the horse beans aud sunflower heads in the Robertson mixture is 

 plainly shown in the protein and ether extract percentages. 



The feeding value of these 2 kinds of silage was tested in a feeding 

 trial with 5 cows, covering 4 periods of 3 weeks, which began Decem- 

 ber 24. The trial was rather unsatisfactory, as 2 of the cows were 

 found to be tuberculous and were slavightered, and the others were 

 removed to an old barn, where they suffered mucb from the cold and 

 were evidently affected by the changed conditions. The results of the 

 trial are tabulated. Under the conditions prevailing "the mixture did 

 not in these cases appear superior to corn silage in feeding value. We 

 do not feel, however, justified in laying much stress on the results 

 owing to the unfortunate complications." 



Rye silage vs. corn silage (pp. 75-77). — Twelve cows were divided into 

 2 lots and fed during 2 periods of 4 weeks each on rye silage or corn 

 silage, the lots being alternated on these. The cows received corn 

 meal, wheat bran, and hay in addition to the silage. The composition 

 of tlie corn and rye silage is given. 



"The rye silage was much drier than the corn silage and was not relished as well. 

 The cows were induced to eat all they would, yet left a good many orts, and ate but 

 three quarters as much dry matter." 



The results of the feeding are tabulated. Considerably more hay 

 was eaten with the rye silage than with the corn silage. About 10 per 

 cent less milk and butter was j)roduced on the rye silage. There was 

 a sill inka,i:e of about 2 per cent in passing from corn silage to rye silage, 

 and a gain of about 2 per cent in changing from rye to corn silage. The 

 indications are that there was a loss of about one half from natural 

 fermentation and fire fanging in ensiling of rye. 



Corn and soja bean silage vs. corn silage (j)p. 77-79). — Four rows of 

 corn, equivalent to one fifth of an acre, with soja beans jilanted in the 

 same rows, was harvested and ensiled separately; and for comparison 

 an equal area of the same corn grown without soja beans. The com- 

 position of the materials as put in and of the 2 kinds of silage as taken 

 out is given. The 2 kinds of silage were fed to 2 lots of 2 cows each 

 in alternating 18-day periods. 



"Both l^inds of silage were well relished." . . . 



"The milk was richer in -both cases during the soja bean aud corn silage feeding. 

 This latter apjjcars to be, practically, the only gain made by the addition of the soja 

 bean to the corn. 



"It ATould appear, then, that the addition of this small amount of soja bean plants 

 to tli(^ corn in the silos did not materially improve the silage, or increase the milker 

 butter yields. Pl.inting in the row with the corn was found to be better than plant- 

 ing in separate rows, because of greater economy of room and labor." 



Pea and oat, and vetch and oat vs. corn silage (pp. 79-81). — The crops 

 from 2 plats of oats and hairy vetch and 2 of oats and peas were har- 

 vested and ensiled together, no effort being made to keep the different 

 kinds separate. This silage was fed out to the herd between October 

 7 and November 17. Analy.-es of the materials as put in the silo are 

 given, together with a brief record of the herd while the silage was fed. 



