FERTILIZERS FOR THE CORN CROP 151 



conducted feeding experiments had shown me was worth $3.00 per ton to my 

 cows. No one would estimate that the feeding value of the dried stover 

 would bring up the $25 worth of grain to the $60 value of the silage. Then, 

 aside from the actual feeding value of the dry matter in the silage, its succu- 

 lence and palatability added a value which made it equal to green pasturage 

 for the cattle, and which the dry fodder would have entirely lacked. 



MANURE FROM ENSILAGE FEEDING. 



One of the great advantages of feeding properly cut and cured ensilage, 

 with clover hay and cow peas to balance it, is the great value of the manurial 

 deposit made, and the fact that it is in a mechanical condition that will 

 allow of its being taken out and spread at once where wanted. One of the 

 greatest mistakes made by otherwise good farmers, is the worship of a dung 

 pile, and wasting of labor in turning and returning and piling manure, either 

 under cover or outside. Manure kept in the barnyard, covered or uncovered, 

 is all the time losing value. But some will say "It will lose if hauled out and 

 spread on the surface." The fact is that it does lose very little when thus 

 spread. It dries out moisture, of course, but does not lose a tithe of what 

 it would lose in a pile, or spread thickly in the barnyard. The rains will 

 wash the soluble part into the soil and the soil will hold it, and under the 

 surface cover the nitrification of organic matter will go on rapidly. An ex- 

 periment was published some years ago by the New Hampshire Station, which 

 showed that on one plat manure was hauled out in the Fall and spread on the 

 surface. On another plat the manure was spread at the same time and 

 plowed under at once. On a third plat the manure was spread the following 

 spring and plowed under. All the plats were then prepared and planted 

 to corn. The result was that the plat on which the manure laid on the 

 surface all winter gave the heaviest crop. 



In the South, on our warm soil and in our sunny climate, the nearer we 

 can keep the manure to the surface the better. I have made numerous experi- 

 ments in this regard, and have always found the best results from having the 

 manure at the surface, where it will act as a mulch, rather than have it below 

 in a light soil. The difference is not so marked in a hoed crop as in the case 

 where the manure is used on fall sown grain. There it not only acts as a 

 manure but as a protective mulch in winter. 



The silo favors the getting out of manure rapidly, before it loses much of 

 its value, and it returns a larger part of the crop to the soil in good shape, 

 than any other method of using the corn crop. 



