ENSILAGE IN THE GREAT DAIRY DISTRICTS. 75 



The exports of cheese are fully as important, and of 

 so fine a quality that the English and European dairy 

 farmers are in despair as to the future. 



By Ensilage, wool can be produced so cheaply and in' 

 such quantities as to preclude the possibility of importation. 



Ensilage being so rich in carbo-hydrates, it is espe- 

 cially adapted to the growth of wool. If, in connection 

 with Ensilage, we would feed the cotton-seed raised in 

 the South (no better -food can be imagined than En- 

 silage and cotton-seed meal) , we could not only stop the 

 importation of wool, but have wool as well as choice 

 mutton in almost unlimited quantities to export (see 

 chapter on sheep for weights of lambs) : their mothers 

 being fed upon Ensilage, numberless flocks could be 

 kept. The old pastures, which have become so worth- 

 less by being stocked with cows so long, would, if pas- 

 tured with sheep, speedily improve, and soon be restored 

 to their original fertility. 



In the rich and fertile West, Ensilage of corn can be 

 raised and stored in Silos for one dollar per ton : as two 

 tons are equal to one ton of the best hay, this places the 

 comparative value of hay at two dollars per ton ; this is less 

 than hay can be cured for. Two acres of good meadow 

 are required to keep one cow ; while by the system of 

 Ensilage improved by my process eight cows may 

 be kept in high condition upon the same land. 



