642 Report of the First Assistant of the 



There should be not more than about five square feet of feeding 

 surface in the silo for each cow. 



The larger the silo the cheaper the storage for each ton of 

 silage. The larger the herd the more cheaply can silage be sup- 

 plied to each animal. 



} Introduction. 



The importance uf the silo, especially for the dairyman, is be 

 coming every year more generally appreciated. The many in- 

 quiries received at this Station indicate a growing interest in this 

 method of preserving fodder. In response to many of these in- 

 quiries, especially those called out by the publication of Bulletin 

 No. 97, the following observations on silage and silos are 

 published. ; 



A number of fodders can be successfully preserved in the silo, 

 but Indian corn has been so generally the crop depended upon 

 that when silage is mentioned without qualification corn silage is 

 commonly understood. Maize, our greatest arable crop, when at 

 its highest value for feeding seems especially suited for preserva- 

 tion in this manner-. The decided palatability of the fresh fodder 

 is not diminished and as huge a proportion of the digestible 

 matter is preserved as by other methods. To fail to take advan- 

 tage of the great possibilities of this magnificent crop, scarcely 

 equalled by any other, for furnishing isucculent food in winter 

 and during time of dry pasture in summer, would appear at 

 least very unprofitable conservatism. 



At its best stage for feeding, when just mature, it is available 

 as fresh fodder for only a few weeks in the fall. In storing and 

 keeping the crop in any manner it is subject to some loss. The 

 average determined loss of dry matter in the crop, when cut and 

 shocked in the field until dry and stored in the barn, has been 

 about equal to the average loss reported from the silo. The di^ 

 fodders, however, from which losses were estimated were, it 

 appears, handled with moi'e care and generally under much more 

 favorable conditions of weather and shelter than those under 

 which the corn crop can generally be handled, while the silos in 



