SILAGE— SOILAGE 211 



possible on a given area, such a system may be the most profitable. 

 In Europe, where labor is relatively cheap compared with land, a much 

 wider use can economically be made of soilage than in the United 

 States. 



Crops for soilage. — Among the crops well suited for soilage are the 

 various legumes, such as alfalfa, the clovers, field peas, cowpeas, and 

 soybeans; the cereals, as rye, wheat, barley, and oats; the smaller 

 grasses ; and especially corn — sweet corn for early feeding and field 

 corn later — and the sorghums. The adaptability of all these for soilage 

 has been discussed in the preceding chapters. 



Soiling crops should not be fed until reasonably mature. Green, 

 immature plants are mostly water, and often cattle cannot consume 

 enough of them to secure the needed nourishment. Where quite green 

 crops must be fed, some dry forage should be supplied. Wherever 

 soilage is practiced, a succession of crops must be carefully planned so 

 that a continuous supply of green forage of the proper stage of 

 maturity will be available over the period desired. It is helpful to 

 prepare a soiling chart which shows the area of each crop to be grown, 

 the date of seeding, the period of feeding, and the estimated yield. 

 Any such attempt will be more or less imperfect at first, but may l)e 

 modified from growing experience and close study to meet the local 

 conditions. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Describe the changes that take place wlien green forage is ensiled. 



2. Give seven advantages of silage. 



3. Summarize the suitability of various crops for silage. Wliat ones are used 

 in your locality? 



4. Discuss the importance of silage for feeding the various classes of stock. 



5. What are the advantages of summer silage compared with soilage crops? 



6. Mention the points to be observed in filling the silo. 



7. What are the requisites of a good silo? 



8. A farmer wishes to provide corn silage for a herd of 15 Holstein cows, 8 

 yearling heifers. 2 idle horses, and 30 breeding ewes during a winter feeding 

 period of 6 months. What size of silo would you recommend? 



9. Define soilage and state its advantages and disadvantages. 



