GRASS SILAGE 3 



Per ton of green weight 



For grasses or small grains 40 pounds^ 



For grass and clover (50-50) 60 pounds 



For clover, alfalfa, or other legumes 75-80 pounds 



^A gallon of molasses weighs 11 ^-^ pounds. 



In practice these amounts can only be approximated, but they serve as a 

 useful guide. It is better to err on the side of too much rather than too little. 

 Although most of the sugar in the molasses is converted by the fermentation 

 into lactic and acetic acid, animals are able to use these acids as food so that the 

 loss of nutrients from the added molasses is small. 



Whatever the loss may be, the amount of molasses it represents has rendered 

 a valuable service in preserving many times its weight of fodder. 



Harvesting 



The mowing may be done at any time of day, but as already indicated there 

 will be less weight to handle if the standing crop is allowed to dry off a bit after 

 heavy rain. When the moisture content is about right, the mower may be fol- 

 lowed immediately by the side-delivery rake and the loader. Some operators 

 use a windrowing attachment on the cutter bar of the mower as illustrated in 

 Figure 1. At most, the crop should not lie in the swath more than a couple of 

 hours if the day is bright. It is important not to cut more than can be put into 

 the silo on the same day, unless the weather is very damp and cloudy and gives 

 promise of remaining so. Even then the mower should not be allowed to get 

 far ahead of the loader. Six feet is the greatest length recommended for the 

 cutter bar; 5 feet 6 inches is better. 



On small fields loading may be done by hand. This is not so hard a task as 

 it may seem on first thought, because, on account of much greater weight per 

 cubic foot, the load should never reach more than half the height of a load of 

 dry hay. (See Figure 2). 



Various types of loaders are used for large-scale operations. The standard 

 dry hay loader is not suited to the work without some changes, especially when 

 the crop is heav> and wet from rain or dew. The water causes the ropes to shrink, 

 which in turn pulls out the staples which fasten the ropes to the slats, rendering 

 the elevator useless. This difficulty can be overcome by replacing the ropes 

 with light chains. The type of chain used for window weights has been recom- 

 mended and is obtainable at most hardware stores. It has also been suggested 

 that the standard slats be replaced by heavier ones made of oak or some other 

 very durable wood. Even then, it is believed that for very heavy crops the 

 standard dry hay loader is not sturdy enough in construction to stand the strain. 



Experience at the State College with repeated breakages of this type of loader 

 led to the purchase this past season of an all metal loader designed to handle 

 either green grass or dry hay successfully. This loader is of the raker bar-cylinder 

 type with galvanized steel deck, and is more rugged in construction than the 

 ordinary dry hay loader. It has been reasonably satisfactory in operation but 

 will not pick up grass from the swath without tangling at the sides of the deck, 

 particularly when the machine is turning corners. This caused so much delay 

 that loading directly from the swath was abandoned in favor of use of the side- 

 delivery rake with subsequent loading from the windrow. Beginners are cautioned 

 against rolling up too large a windrow, especially on hilly fields or where the 

 ground is soft. Figure 2 shows the loader in operation. 



