68 BRITISH DAIRYING. 



Silage, 



Opinions vary a good deal as to the value of silage, but the 

 majority are in favour of well-made hay. Mr. Gibbs, of Gilwell 

 Park, spent a fortune in devising a machine for making hay by 

 artificial heat ; thousands of pounds have been thrown away in 

 experimenting with " exhaust-fans " for finishing haymaking in 

 the rick, whereas a perforated pipe or two would do the work 

 better automatically, and at a mere fraction of the cost ; and, 

 lastly, the system of ensilage has taken a considerable hold on 

 the public fancy ; the hay-dryer and the fans are now obsolete, 

 but ensilage will probably survive some time longer as a system 

 of preserving grass and other forage crops for use in winter. 

 There can be no dispute that the easy digestibility of silage is a 

 merit which hay does not possess in the same degree, for silage 

 is damp and soft, while hay is dry and hard. But silage is 

 frequently a failure, and even when it is not there is usually a 

 good deal of waste all round the outside of the silo or the silage- 

 rick. 



Years ago there were several enthusiasts who did harm to the 

 reputation of silage by claiming for it several merits which could 

 not be sustained in practice, and were not corroborated by 

 science. It was claimed, for instance, that even good meadow 

 grass, or clover, or any other excellent forage crop, was im- 

 proved in quality and increased in nutritive value by being 

 converted into silage ; that various plants which are properly 

 regarded as weeds spurrey, for example and rough grass 

 from roadsides or plantations, become good food in the form of 

 silage ; and that almost any kind of green stuff that stock will 

 hardly touch was converted in the silo, as if by magic, into 

 palatable and nutritious food for winter use. Now it is certain 

 that no change within itself can improve good grass or clover, 

 or any other forage plant ; but that, on the other hand, the 

 rapid fermentation which is unavoidable in the silo is a chemical 

 process which injures the silage as food, chiefly by converting 

 the sugar into acids. By allowing the temperature of the silage 

 to rise to 130 Fahr., it is said that the bacteria which pro- 



