260 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



been converted into stack silage, in which case the decaying outside pro- 

 tects the interior of the mass a practice which, however, is not gaining 

 favor. Potts of Australia 10 reports that 3 tons of grass silage is esti- 

 mated to be worth 1 ton of oat hay. A stack containing 200 tons of grass 

 silage, opened after 10 years, furnished good feed. Georgeson of the 

 Alaska Experiment Station 11 reports that fresh native grasses kept well 

 when stored in a log silo made smooth inside, and that such silage satis- 

 factorily maintained oxen during 3 winters. Green cereals are fairly 

 satisfactory for silage, providing they are ensiled before the stems 

 have become woody. (318) Since the hollow stems of these plants con- 

 tain air, such forage must be closely compacted in the silo. 



As a class the legumes have often proved disappointing for silage when 

 ensiled alone. Therefore, except where weather conditions prevent cur- 

 ing alfalfa or clover into satisfactory hay or other more satisfactory 

 silage crops can not be grown, they can not be recommended for silage. 

 In ensiling these crops the directions given previously should be followed. 

 (342, 348) Red clover usually makes better silage than alfalfa. When 

 ensiled with corn or the sorghums, cowpeas and soybeans produce silage 

 of high quality, rich in protein. (357-8) The refuse of pea canneries 

 makes a silage much relished by farm animals. (356) 



Such substances as beet pulp, beet tops, apple pomace, the waste from 

 sweet corn canneries, and sorghum bagasse may be successfully ensiled 

 in silos, or placed in heaps and covered with earth, or, if no better 

 provision can be made, massed in large heaps without covering, in which 

 case the outside portion on decaying forms a preserving crust. (275, 356) 

 Cooke of the Vermont Station 12 found that ensiled apple pomace was 

 preferred by cows to either hay or corn fodder, and concludes that it 

 has a value equal to corn silage for cows. (635) Boyce of Australia 13 

 reports prickly pears making silage relished by cattle, the thorns soften- 

 ing and becoming harmless. Weeds and other waste vegetation may 

 sometimes be advantageously ensiled. Featherstonhaugh of Australia 14 

 reports a case where 800 tons of ensiled thistles made satisfactory silage. 

 Attempts to ensile cabbage and turnips have failed, the products being 

 ill-smelling and watery. As discussed in another chapter (384), the 

 large Russian variety of sunflowers is proving a satisfactory silage crop 

 in certain sections. 



410. Cost of silage. The cost of silage per ton will vary widely de- 

 pending on the price of labor, the yield of forage per acre, rent of land, 

 etc. The following summary of data from 4 experiment stations gives 

 the approximate ton and acre cost under conditions before the war of 

 growing a silage crop and placing it in the silo. Tho the cost will 

 differ quite widely thruout the United States, this summary will be help- 



10 N. S Wales Gaz., Vol. 15, p. 82. 18 N. S. Wales Gaz., Vol. 8, p. 505. 



"Alaska Bui. 1. 14 N. S. Wales Gaz., Vol. 9, p. 71. 



12 Vt. Rpt. 1903. 



