FILLING THE SILO. 337 



should be possible in all instances to apply the last 

 mentioned remedy, but not the first mentioned, since 

 there are localities in which the season is too short to 

 admit of corn reaching the roasting stage before the 

 arrival of frost, and yet in these localities it may be 

 desirable to make silage from corn. 



The degree of the wilting will be dependent on 

 the succulence of the corn. The less advanced the 

 stage of the growth, the more should the corn be 

 wilted. Good silage has been made at Indian Head, 

 Can., from corn cut before grain had been formed 

 in the ear. If corn should pass the proper stage of 

 maturity before it is put into the silo, it will keep 

 better if water is poured over the ma.ss occasionally 

 while the silo is being filled. The same result will 

 measurably follow if some more succulent food, as 

 clover or oats and peas are mixed with the corn. 



When corn is struck with frost and is then al- 

 lowed to stand uncut for some time subsequently, it 

 will be greatly injured for feeding. But if, when 

 thus stricken, the crop is at once cut and put into the 

 silo, the value of the silage made from it, though 

 reduced is not seriously impaired. 



The exact stage of development at which 

 sorghum and the non-saccharine sorghums ought 

 to be cut have not yet been fully determined, 

 but it will probably be found that the best stage 

 for harvesting these crops will be when they 

 are just a little short of maturity. But crops even of 

 the same species are by no means equally succulent 

 at the same stage of advancement. Much depends 

 upon the climate, and season, and this fact must not 

 be lost sight of when they are being made into silage. 

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