762 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



But in the Gospel we now have under consideration, we got quick re- 

 turns, a dividends semi-annually, as we will show further on. 



There are numerous crops that may be ensilaged, but the one crop 

 that surpasses all others for silage is corn. The books say that 40 per 

 cent of the nutrients contained in the corn plant, are found in other, 

 than the grain it produces. 



Now if a manufacturer producing a certain commodity, finds 40 per 

 cent of his crude material is waste, so far as his finished product is con- 

 cerned, he studies carefully what may be done to utilize the waste. This 

 waste when it can be turned to some account, they call a by-product. Now 

 suppose that one manufacturer would discover a means of converting 

 what had previously been a waste, to a product, almost equal in value to 

 his original finished product, how long do you suppose that it would take 

 his competitors to adopt similar methods? Yet we farmers do allow sucli 

 waste to continue when we are convinced that such is the case, and know 

 just what to do to turn it to account. 



In the factory man, this utilization of their waste or by product is 

 called business method, saving that which formerly wasted is 

 "Business" good Business. Now let us begin to apply some of the advise 

 laid down by Mr. Pollard yesterday. 



The statement that 40 per cent of the digestable nutrients found in 

 the corn plant, at maturity as demonstrated by our experiment stations, 

 Is contained in the other elements of the corn plant, besides the grain 

 is no doubt correct. 



Granting this to be true, it is a poor business proposition to allow such, 

 an amount of value to go to waste, when there is a logical method of sav- 

 ing it. The silo offers the remedy. You all well know that in the ordi- 

 nary way of harvesting our corn by husking it in the field, leaves nothing 

 of value save the ears of corn that are overlooked, what remains is a 

 delusion. I am aware that it would not be practicable to harvest our 

 whole corn crop into silo, but in view of the fact that silage fed cattle 

 have a sh-arp appetite for dry roughage your shock corn or husked fodder 

 supplies this want admirably. 



Among the greatest advantages in the use of silage as a stock food is 

 its palatability and wholesomeness. It is not only nutritious but I find 

 it to be a good conditioner. 



Any feeder using silage as a basis for compounding a feed ration need 

 never spend money for stock foods, as cattle fed upon it, are uniformly 

 bright eyed, loose hided and mellow. I have never fattened steers, but 

 nothing what our dry cows and youngsters do on silage and clover with 

 little or no grain. I believe the statement of feeders who claim that 

 allowing 10 per cent for the grain found in good silage they are able to 

 produce as much gain per day on feeders, with 07ie half the amount of 

 grain where silage forms the basis of their rations, as they can with the 

 other usual combinations of grain and roughage with the silage left out. 

 This is a pretty broad statement and is too good to pass unheeded, if only 

 half true. My experience with silage has been in connection with the 

 Dairy. As a milk proposition I know that I have an advantage over any 



