500 



THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



to raise nothing but the perennial grasses. I cut my corn after tasselling, when it is full of 

 saccharine matter. I use the Southern horse-tooth corn, getting my seed from one section, 

 from one particular State. I plant about eight bushels to the acre, and I plant by hand.&quot; 



It will be seen by extracts previously given that, while the methods of preserving ensi 

 lage differ somewhat with adherents of the system, they all agree with respect to the value of 

 the fodder thus preserved. 



The Most Profitable Crops to Ensilage. As has been previously stated, all 

 kinds of forage crops may be preserved in accordance with the system of ensilage; still some 



kinds are better suited and more profitable to be pre 

 served in this manner than others. Mr. O. B. Potter 

 states as the result of his experience in preserving corn, 

 rye, grasses, clover, sorghum, etc., that in many re 

 spects red clover is most admirably adapted for ensilage, 

 since it settles in the most compact mass, and thus meets 

 the principal requisite of the process, which is to ex 

 clude the air and retain the moisture, and that he pre 

 fers sorghum to corn for this purpose. That sorghum 

 will produce more milk and flesh to the acre than corn, 

 but will also exhaust the soil more in its production 

 than the latter, and also requires longer to mature. 



Corn has been used thus far more extensively for 

 ensilage than any other crop, while perhaps clover, and 

 sorghum or millet would rank next in this respect. 



The varieties of corn generally used for this purpose 

 are those of the largest and most thrifty growth, such as 

 the Southern Seed Corn, or some of the large varieties 

 of sweet corn. 



The Southern Seed Corn has an abundance of foli 

 age, heavy stalks, and is very sweet and nutritious. 

 It does not mature in the Northern States, but reaches 

 full height and tassels in that climate. 



The cow-pea is a very valuable food for ensilage, 

 but cannot be raised as easily as fodder-corn in all parts 

 of the country. 



Broom-corn, sorghum, millet of various kinds, oats, 

 rye, clover, the various kinds of grasses, etc., can also 

 be preserved in this manner, but as has been previously 

 mentioned, corn has thus far been given the preference 

 generally. 



Method of Cultivating Maize for Ensilage. 



Maize or corn for ensilage may be sown either broad 

 cast or in drills, but the drill method is to be preferred, 

 since it admits of after-culture, produces a heavier 

 growth, and is less liable to be blown down by the wind. 

 The soil should be rich and well pulverized. It is a fact well known to all farmers that the 

 richest soil will produce but a partial crop where this necessary part of agriculture is 

 neglected. The usual method is to plant in drills three or three and a half feet apart, the 

 seed from four to six inches apart in the drills. 



Different methods are preferred by different farmers, some of which differ very 



SOUTHERN SEED CORN. 



