IS ENSILAGE A SUCCESS? 



147 



results in his own mind, but wanted endorsement, so wrote 

 to his agents to enquire their opinion of the winter's product. 

 The reply came promptly, that the butter had never been 

 better and the improvement caused by discontinuing ensilage 

 was very marked ! Having given this matter long and care- 

 ful examination, I have satisfied myself fully, that where good 

 ensilage is fed with discretion to cows which would other- 

 wise have no succulent food, or instead of a small allowance 

 of roots, there is an improvement in the quality of the milk 

 and butter made from it which will be noticed and approved 

 by the consumers, unless unreasonable prejudice intervenes. 

 I have yet to be convinced that, unless carelessness prevails, 

 any unpleasant odor or taste is given to dairy products by 

 feeding ensilage. And when such results do occur, my 

 belief is that thf-y are due to lack of judgment or care in the 

 stable, and that the milk gets its objectionable odor from 

 the air and not through the cow. Whenever feeding ensilaije 

 to dairy cows, the same precautions should be taken as in 

 using turnips and cabbage. With proper care I never 

 experience any difficulty from such feeding. 



In response to a call for facts in regard to the effect of 

 ensilage upon milk among English dairymen, replies were 

 sent as indicated in the following table, published by the 

 Agricultural Department of Great Britain : — 



No change, 22 



Imjjroved in quantity and quality, . 

 Decreased quantity- and deteriorated quality, 



Increased quantity, 



Decreased quantity, 



Improved quality, 



Deteriorated quality, 



Imin-oved quality and decreased quantity, 



Increased quantity and deteriorated quality, . 



Favorable results (whether in quantity or quality not stated), 



Unfavorable results, 



Total opinions. 



294 79 



Upon this important branch of the subject, — the food 

 value and effect of ensilage, I offer the following condensed 

 record of a number of careful experiments and practical 

 tests, most of them made under my own supervision : — 



