260 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



men, whose cows would otherwise be wholly de- 

 pendent on pastures which may fail with the advent 

 of dry weather. 



There is no method of providing green food 

 even for summer feeding that is so economical of 

 labor. Silage can be taken from the silo and fed to 

 cows in much less time than soiling food could be 

 provided from any other source. And when meal 

 is given at the same time, it may be fed more profit- 

 ably when mixed with the silage than when fed 

 along with other soiling food, without first running 

 the same through a fodder cutter. To prepare green 

 food thus by cutting it up would be impracticable 

 when harvested day by day, unless when a very 

 large quantity was used daily, and where there is an 

 ample supply of help. 



Live stock will also eat such food with avidity. 

 Instances are on record where cows have shown a 

 preference for corn silage over grass, and there is no 

 period of the year, not even when grass is at its 

 best, that they will not eat with evident relish more 

 or less of corn silage when well preserved. The 

 silo therefore may be made to furnish soiling food 

 every day in the year, since it will answer quite well 

 to begin feeding from a silo the day after the filling 

 of the same has been completed, and even while the 

 filling process is under way. 



But it does not follow that because live stock 

 may thus be provided with green food that it will 

 not be eminently proper to provide and feed other 

 green food. Corn is not in itself a balanced ration, 

 nor is corn silage and grass, and even though these 

 did furnish a balanced food, a variety is usually 



