IS ENSILAGE A SUCCESS? 



151 



time and 7 pounds at another, or 33 pounds during the day ; 

 but none the day before or the day after. 



(H.) In English publications there are records of trials 

 with breedinof ewes, both before and after lambins;, where 

 some of the most noted flock-masters of Great Britain sub- 

 stituted ensilage for roots with most satisfactory results. 

 This has led to the extensive adoption of ensilage for breed- 

 ing ewes in that country. I made a trial with a breeding 

 flock of Southdowns at Houghton Farm, and while exceed- 

 ingly i)leased with the effect of ensilage feeding upon the 

 ewes, I found it difficult to prevent lambs from eating it 

 also, while very young, and the ensilage being sour and 

 poor certainly injured the lambs ; some died. 



The following are more accurate experiments with other 

 classes of sheep : — 



1. 8tore Sheep. — To ascertain the efficiency of maintain- 

 ing " store sheep" on ensilage, two wethers, 2^ years old, 

 were selected in December, separated and fed separately 

 until January 5. Then, having become accustomed to the 

 changes and their new rations, the record was begun and 

 continued 80 days. During the period the sheep No. 1 was 

 fed daily, 1 pound each of wheat bran, whole oats and cut 

 hay, 3 pounds dry forage ; sheep No. 2 was fed 7 pounds 3 

 ounces of corn ensilage daily. 



Periodical wei<2:hinoi;s gave this record : — 



During the trial. No. 1 drank an average of 4 pounds 2 

 ounces of water daily ; No. 2 drank none during the 80 

 days. 



The eff'ort was to maintain the sheep at a fixed weight ; 

 but the one on ensilage alone would not eat enough to pre- 

 vent loss. It was fed, in the 80 days, 674 pounds of corn 

 ensilage, — nearly 8^ pounds a day, — but of this it refused 



