124 THE B OOK OF ENSILAGE. 



lage until I was ready to fill the balance of the silo with 

 corn Ensilage. 



On Sept. 24, upon removing the weights and the plank 

 covering, there was found a layer of about an inch in 

 thickness of rye Ensilage, which was somewhat mouldy. 

 There was no unpleasant or musty smell, however, to 

 this layer ; and, when fed to the cows, they seemed to 

 relish it. Directly under this thin layer the Ensilage was 

 perfect, not the slightest mould, fresh, and with a 

 delightful odor, excepting that it was somewhat too 

 strong of alcohol. A large basket of it was taken to 

 the cows, which had been at pasture all day, had been 

 fed with all the cut green-corn fodder they would eat, 

 and had received their evening grain-ration ; no sooner 

 was it within their reach than they grabbed the Ensilage 

 as if they were famished, and swallowed it as if it were 

 the sweetest morsel, never stopping an instant until it 

 was all gone. The next morning we commenced filling 

 in the corn on top of the rye. Thus, from a threatened 

 failure, we gain a valuable lesson ; and that is, to wet the 

 forage if it is not green and succulent. 



The first edition of 2,000 copies of " The Book 

 of Ensilage" is sold (or this new one of 5,000 copies 

 would not have made its appearance), and has received 

 a most favorable reception from the press of the 

 country and the public generally. I am not troubled 

 that a very few scientific men have attempted to in- 

 directly criticise it, saying : First, " We have known 

 all this matter before this Bailey tried it." Second, 

 " It is absurd to suppose that the process of Ensilage 

 improves the forage." Third, " It is doubtful whether it 

 has any advantages over drying. And between the lines 

 they plainly say, "WE had nothing to do with demon- 

 strating the practical utility of this system in America, 



