148 



SILAGE CROPS. 



stages of silo filling: were largely due to the faulty construction of 

 the silo. Clover does not pack as well as the heavy green corn, 

 and, therefore, requires to be cut and weighted, or calls for greater 

 depth in the silo, in order that the air may be sufficiently excluded. 



The clover should not be left to wilt between cutting and silo- 

 ing, and the silo should be filled rapidly, so as to cause no unneces- 

 sary losses by fermentation. 



The different species of clover will prove satisfactory silo crops; 

 ordinary red or medium clover is most used in Northwestern 

 States, along with mammoth clover; the latter matures later than 

 medium or red clover, and may therefore be siloed later than these. 



When to Cut Clover for the Silo. The yield of food materials 

 obtained from clover at different stages of growth has been studied 

 by a number of scientists. The following table giving the results 

 of an investigation conducted by Professor Atwater will show the 

 total quantities of food materials secured at four different stages 

 of growth of red clover: 



Table XII. Yield Per Acre of Red Clover in Pounds. 



Professor Hunt obtained 3,600 pounds of hay per acre from 

 clover cut in full bloom, and 3,260 pounds when three-fourths of 

 the heads were dead. The yields of dry matter in the two cases 

 were 2,526 pounds, and 2,427 pounds respectively. All compon- 

 ents, except fiber (see Glossary), yielded less per acre in the sec- 

 ond cutting. Jordan found the same result, comparing the yields 

 and composition of clover cut when in bloom, some heads dead, 

 and heads all dead, the earliest cutting giving the maximum yield 

 of dry matter, and of all components except crude fibre. 



The common practice of farmers is to cut clover for the silo 

 when in full bloom, or when the first single heads are beginning to 

 wilt, that is, when right for hay-making, and we notice that the 



