30 SILOS, ENSILAGE AND SILAGE. 



straw, or other coarse fodder, about eight to ten inches 

 thick, on the floor of a room of convenient size (10 by 12 

 to 16 ft.), and cover this with a layer of pulped roots, 

 then another layer of chaff, followed again by the pulped 

 roots, and so on, with alternate layers until the mass 

 was four or five feet deep. Each layer of chaff was care- 

 fully packed, so that the corners were well filled, and the 

 thickness of the layer of roots was regulated by the sup- 

 ply at command for the season. 



The whole was allowed to remain from twenty-four to 

 forty-eight hours before feeding, when the mass was 

 found to be thoroughly heated, and the chaff softened 

 from the moisture, and mild cooking process. * 



In tracing the history of ensilage, it appears that in 

 Germany, previous to 1842, the preservation of green 

 fodder in underground silos had been developed into a 

 system, which, in its methods and results, compares 

 favorably with the average practice of the present time. 



The silos were lined with wood, or other materials, 

 and the thorough packing of the fodder, the close-fitting 

 cover of boards, and the final weighting of the mass with 

 eighteen inches of earth, were looked upon as the best 

 conditions for securing the desired result. 



It cannot with reason be assumed that this well 

 developed system sprung into existence at once, with its 

 many well-planned, practical details, and we cannot 

 avoid the conclusion that it was preceded by ruder 

 methods and successive steps of improvement, extending 

 over a number of years. 



In England we also find that fermented fodder had 



* In July, 1868, 1 imported a root pulper from England for the Michigan Agri- 

 cultural College, and the system of feeding pulped turnips (Swedes), with chaffed 

 straw, cornstalks, and hay, w is practiced with the most satisfactory results. 

 As our crop of turnips averaged twenty-five acres each year, our experience was 

 on a sufficient scale to fully demonstrate the great economy of the system when 

 roots are grown to any extent for feeding cattle. The pulping system has been 

 quite extensively practiced by a number of Canadian farmers of my acquaint- 

 ance, and they were all well pleased wi Jti it. 



