52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Secretary Sessions. It seems to me that the point that 

 was raised has not been touched upon ; that is, the propor- 

 tion of ensilaged oats and peas that can be most profitably 

 fed with corn ensilage. 



Mr. Dyer. I will put the question in another form, and 

 then perhaps you will get at it. ^Ve have been told that, if 

 we feed sixty pounds of ensilage and four quarts of shorts, 

 we are feeding a balanced ration to a stock animal to keep 

 that animal in condition. What I want to know is, how 

 much shall I reduce my sixty pounds of ensilage, and how 

 much of this ensilage of oats and peas shall I put in so that 

 I need not use my four quarts of shorts ? 



Professor Cheesman. I did not understand that Mr. 

 Dyer was asking in relation to the use of ensilaged peas and 

 oats when he put the question. Let me say here, in the 

 first place, that I do not approve of any such ration as four 

 quarts of shorts and sixty pounds of ensilage. I think the 

 best practice now-a-days, certainly in the Eastern States, is 

 to limit the consumption of ensilage to a quantity not exceed- 

 ing thirty pounds. If we feed beyond that amount, we are 

 very apt to find the animals shedding their coats too early 

 in the spring, and that such practice keeps them in a relaxed 

 condition. I should prefer to increase the quantity of hay, 

 preferably clover, to cut down the ensilage from thirty or 

 twenty-five pounds, or whatever forms the limit, and use a 

 quantity of ensilage made from peas and oats sufficient to 

 bring up the total quantity to thirty pounds. The quantity 

 used would depend upon the amount harvested and on the 

 numl)cr of cattle kept. That is a question nobody could 

 answer but the o-vower of the ensilaae. 



The Chaiumak. I see Mr, Kill)ourn here, and we should 

 be glad to hear from him on this subject, as he is thoroughly 

 well posted upon it. 



Mr. W. A. KiLiJOURN (of South Lancaster). I am not 

 prepared to give any information on these points. At pres- 

 ent we are not using ensilage, simply because our silo was 

 destroyed and we have never replaced it. I agree with the 

 gentleman (Professor Cheesman) that sixty pounds of ensi- 

 lage is too large a feed for profitable or desirable results. I 

 .should prefer half that amount, and the addition of a pro- 

 portionate quantity of grain. 



