WINTER GREEN ENSILAGE 157 



time about one part of straw to every four or five parts 

 of the green material. The straw absorbs some of the 

 surplus moisture and prevents the blower from chok- 

 ing. There are very few farms, so far, equipped 

 with a chaff ensiling plant, and a stave or common 

 pit silo, and it would certainly be a decided advantage 

 if some means were devised of ensiling rape and 

 similar crops on the stack principle as described in 

 an earlier chapter. 



In the coming winter experiments of this nature are 

 being undertaken by the writer and his farming part- 

 ner. 



NEED FOR SUBSIDIZED EXPERIMENT 



In passing, the writer cannot help remarking that 

 it is a pity that funds are not available by means of 

 which farmers, who wish to undertake experiments 

 similar to the above, could be guaranteed against loss. 

 It is a very serious thing indeed to attempt the con- 

 version of, say, 100 tons of green fodder into ensilage 

 when the experiment proves a failure. Not only is 

 so much valuable food material lost, but it throws 

 one's feeding plans very much out of balance, and 

 disorganises the whole business of the farm. 



There is indeed much room for important research 

 in connection with the whole subject of ensilage, and 

 the educational authorities have certainly not given 

 the matter one-tenth the attention which it deserves. 

 In fact, glancing through the literature on the subject, 

 it seems that all that has been done is to collect a cer- 

 tain amount of economic information from farmers 

 who have, unaided, ventured upon ensilage experi- 

 ments. Even then, in the instances referred to, the 

 tendency seems to have been to devote far too much 

 attention to the academic, or what the practical farmer 

 terms "the finnicky points.' ' 



