CHAPTEE XY. 



THE ENSILAGE OF FODDERS. 



Digestible nutrients and fertilizing constituents. 



384. Permanency of this method of food preservation. For 



more than two decades the subject of silos and silage has been 

 prominently before the American farmer for consideration. Much 

 space has been given to the matter by the agricultural press 

 and much time devoted to discussions in relation thereto in agri- 

 cultural gatherings. Unfortunately for this form of food preser- 

 vation extravagant claims were advanced in its behalf by some 

 of its early enthusiastic advocates. These naturally aroused the 

 suspicion of conservative people, who looked upon the matter as 

 something for the day only and unworthy of thoughtful consider- 

 ation or investigation. Silos and silage have outlasted their over- 

 zealous friends, and through the experience of practical feeders 

 and the investigations of our Experiment Stations we are now 

 able to discuss the subject intelligently. Because corn is the great 

 silo crop, a consideration of the matter turns upon the relative 



