156 SILAGE CROPS. 



Broom Corn. Excellent results have been obtained in North- 

 west Oklahoma and Southwest Kansas by cutting the broqm corn 

 stalks after the tops have been removed and preserving them in the 

 silo. Such silage contains no grain, and is, of course, greatly in- 

 ferior to other crops that contain grain, but it is a practical way 

 of saving this feed, that otherwise would be, to a large extent, 

 lost. 



Johnson Grass is a tall vigorous grass, closely related to the 

 sorghums. As a silage crop it has not been used except to a lim- 

 ited extent, but it has possibilities worth investigating. One of the 

 southern Agricultuial Colleges partially filled a silo with Johnson 

 grass in 1913 and claim good results, so that further tests will 

 be made with it. 



Miscellaneous Silage Crops. In Northern Europe, especially in 

 England, and the Scandinavian countries, meadow grass and after- 

 math (rowen) are usually siloed; in England, at the present time, 

 largely in stacks. 



In districts near sugar beet factories, where sugar-beet pulp can 

 be obtained in large quantities and at a low cost, stock raisers and 

 dairymen have a most valuable aid in preserving the pulp in the 

 silo. As the pulp is taken from the factory it contains about 90 

 per cent, of water; it packs well in the silo, being heavy, finely 

 divided and homogeneous, and a more shallow silo can therefore 

 be safely used in making pulp silage than is required in siloing 

 corn, and especially clover and other crops of similar character. 

 If pulp is siloed with other fodder crops, it is preferably placed 

 uppermost, for the reason stated. Beet tops and pulp are often 

 siloed in alternate layers in pits 3 to 4 feet deep, and covered with 

 boards and a layer of dirt. Beet pulp can also be successfully 

 placed in any modern deep silo, and is preferably siloed in such 

 silos as there will then be much smaller losses of food materials 

 than in case of shallow silos or trenches in the field. 



Beet pulp silage is relatively rich in protein and low in ash 

 and carbohydrates (nutr. ratio 1:5.7; see Glossary). Its feeding 

 value is equal to about half that of corn silage. 



The Colorado Station has found that two tons of pulp are the 

 equivalent of one ton of beets, which confirms the Nebraska test 

 showing the feeding value of sugar beets to be practically equiv- 



