INTRODUCTION TO NEW EDITION. 



WHEN, in the winter of 1879-80, I took the liberty of dedi- 

 cating the first edition of the " Book of Ensilage " to the 

 " farmers of America," the system of ensilage, so far as related 

 to its adaptation to America and to American wants and 

 methods, was in that state of uncertainty that no one could 

 be found who dared to thoroughly try it, partly on account of 

 the expense involved, and perhaps more through an unwilling- 

 ness to run the risk of failure, and consequently be compelled 

 to bear the ridicule of those who stand ready, whenever a pro- 

 gressive man takes a step in advance of the old methods, in 

 hopes that something better may be found which shall serve to 

 elevate humanity, or lessen the toils and improve the condition 

 of his fellow-man, to say, until complete success silences them, 

 " I told you so." Could these doubters, these dispensers of 

 ridicule, always have had their own way, and prevented pro- 

 gressive men from trying, every farmer would to this day have 

 carried his grist to mill slung across his horse's back, with a 

 stone in one end of the bag to balance the weight of the 

 corn in the other. 



The success of my experiments was, however, so complete, 

 the results were so startling, but so conclusive, that thousands 

 of the most intelligent and progressive farmers and business- 

 men with a taste for agriculture, came to "Winning Farm," 

 and examined the practical workings of the system of ensilage 

 for themselves. So convincing was the exhibition of what they 

 saw, that I can truly say that there is to-day, not a State in the 

 Union which has not a silo constructed in all material points 

 after the "Winning Silos." Nebraska one of the last we 



