182 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



silo is quite large, or the farmers already have power at hand. Careful 

 estimates have shown that three tons of ensilage are equal to one ton of 

 hay for feeding. . A silo holding 180 tons of ensilage, having 54 tons of 

 dry matter, would hold but 23 tons of red clover with 20 tons of dry 

 matter; hence, while the silage space costs more for the cubic content, 

 yet at the same expense quite as much forage can be stored. 



As I have said, if com fodder could be perfectly cured in a dry state,' 

 it might be equal for feeding purposes to the same amount of fodder pat 

 in the silo. Still, for dairy cows, ensilage has the advantage of being 

 more succulent, and hence more productive of milk. This kind of feed 

 also has its advantages over dry fodder in keeping stock healthful during 

 our long winters. I find that one reason of prejudice against ensilage 

 has come from observations of the effect on stock where large quantities 

 are fed. It has not been found desirable to use more than two bushels 

 per day per animal for cattle, making up the balance of the ration with 

 bran and dry fodder of some kind. In the first place, corn, and com fod- 

 der alone, is not a perfect food for any kind of stock ; and secondly, it is 

 not healthful to feed stock entirely on this green food in cold weather. 



Since the first silos were filled, there have been some changes in the 

 growing of the crop, the construction of the silo, and the method of filling 

 and covering, which have greatly simplified and cheapened the work. 

 For some years it was thought that the amount of fodder that could be 

 grown per acre, without reference to its quality, was the desired object, 

 and southern com, that grew immense stalks but produced no ears, was 

 used to a large extent. This made very poor fodder. Later it has been 

 found best to use our common corn, planting it less thickly so that it pro- 

 duces a large quantity of ears, and put it in the silo at maturity, this 

 method making the most desirable fodder. 



THE SILO. 



At first it was thought the silo should be constructed of solid masonry, 

 but it has been found that wood and paper are the best materials for 

 construction. A dead air space is what is desired, and this can be 

 secured by the use of tarred paper with wood outside and inside for pro- 

 tection at a very moderate expense. The form of the silos has also 

 changed; formerly they were constructed in a square or rectangular 

 form, but it was found that it was very difficult to construct the corners 

 so that they would be air tight, and there was, at times, considerable loss 

 of silage; hence the round silo was introduced, which is a much better 

 form, and within the last year, silos have been constructed simply with 

 2x6 pine, dressed in the form of large staves, and set up with strong iron 

 hoops in the form of a large tub. This has been found to preserve the 

 silage completely without any other protection, although it would be well 

 to afford some protection. This form is much cheaper than any other, 

 as it takes far less material. Three-ton silos, made in this form at the 

 College, have kept silage perfectly for two winters. 



It was formerly thought that filling the silo must be done slowly, cov- 

 ering a period of several days, letting it stand between each successive 

 period a day or two, to let the contents become hot, but it has been found 

 that it may be filled either way — slowly or as quickly as possible. If the 



