SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 763 



dairyman who attempt to produce milk without silage. My cows speak 

 for themselves, as many farmers here today who pass over our places and 

 see the health robust condition of our stock, young and old can testify, 

 and I see no reason why silage would not work the same advantage for 

 the feeder as the dairyman. 



There are others advantages that follow the ensilage practice, one of 

 which is. that you remove your crop from the ground so that it can be 

 plowed in the fall, a practice I have followed for years. All of the ground 

 fhat we intend to put in small grain or corn this Spring was plowed late 

 last Fall. I find that this treatment of our light clay soil prevents water 

 standing on top of the ground and we are able to plant our oats many 

 days before we could get into corn stock ground to mud them in as of old, 

 I also believe that late fall plowing destroys a great many insects that 

 otherwise winter in the ground if not distrubed. 



In preparing crops for the silo we have adopted the practice of drilling 

 our corn, dropping one kernel every eight to twelve inches. We find we 

 get a greater growth of fodder with good ears. Good corn does not hurt 

 silage. The ideal time to ensilage corn is just when the kernels of the 

 well developed ears are well dented. Another good rule is when the two 

 bottom leaves begin to turn yellow, or when you would consider it in 

 good condition to put into shock. The best silage is made from corn that' 

 is fully matured but has not begun to dry up. I have used sorgum with 

 good results. Cattle are extremely fond of it. It is best however to mix 

 it with your corn. 



I think our best results came from planting cane seed with planter, 

 going over the ground following the corn rows. In cultivating we paid 

 little attention to the cane but it made quite a stand among the corn. 

 This silage was greatly relished by all of our stock. 



FEEDING SILAGE TO BEEF CATTLE. 



HUMPHREY JONES, FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, IN WALLACE'S FARMEE. 



Cattle feeders everyw'here realize the importance of the cheaper pro 

 duction of beef. The profit usually are small and often times there is a 

 loss. Assuming that the law of supply and demand controls the price 

 of the finished product, there appears to be but two ways to increase the 

 profits of the feeder — to get the feeders cheaper, or to reduce the cost of 

 finishing the steers. 



The use of silage for steer feeding is a new thing, and, like all new 

 things, it is apt to have its too enthusiastic advocates who will make 

 extravagant and excessive claims for it. The subject should be discussed 

 and considered impartially and not after the fashion of the special pleader 

 or the advocate of some pet theory. The testimony of those having bad 



