26 THE BOOK OF ENSILAGE. 



tive value by being all cut at the right stage of growth, 

 and preserved by the system of Ensilage with all its 

 elements uninjured. 



Ensilage is therefore the most economical method of 

 soiling. The preserved succulent forage is improved by 

 lying in the Silos, and at the same time the easiest and 

 cheapest road by which green crops can reach the man- 

 ger is through the Silo. It practically annihilates winter, 

 and places the stock-raisers and dairymen in better cir- 

 cumstances than they would be if they had throughout 

 the year the waving fields of oats or rye and the luxu- 

 riant corn in their best stage for soiling, from which to 

 cut the daily food of their animals. The advantage of 

 being able to plant or sow the whole crop at one time, 

 and to cut and store it all at once, when in its most 

 nutritive state, can hardly be over-estimated. 



My corn was planted from the I5th to the 25th of 

 June. On one acre was Stowel's evergreen sweet corn ; 

 the other six acres, Southern white corn. 



There were at least twice as many tons of the latter to 

 the acre as of the former. I shall plant no more sweet 

 corn for Ensilage. The corn was all sown in drills about 

 three feet apart, one bushel of seed-corn to the acre; 

 was manured with about six cords of stable manure 

 spread broadcast after ploughing, and harrowed twice 

 with a Thomas smoothing harrow. It was planted with 

 an " Albany corn-planter ;" which, in addition to opening 

 the drill, dropping the corn, and covering it, also de- 

 posited about two hundred pounds to the acre of a mix- 

 ture composed of equal parts of superphosphate, cotton- 

 seed, meal, and gypsum. A portion did not come up 

 well, and had to be replanted. The dry weather and 

 cool nights of the summer of 1879 prevented a rapid 

 growth in certain portions. In fact, it was not a good 



