6 N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 305 



formation of great value could be gathered. Ten states actively cooperated 

 in the survey. In addition, returns were received from operators in seven 

 other states. The returns from 380 operators located in seventeen states form 

 the basis of this publication. 



Nine returns were received from Maine, 12 from New Hampshire; 

 17, Vermont; 29, Massachusetts; 10, Connecticut; 149, New York; 60, New 

 Jersey; 64, Pennsylvania; 17, Maryland; 2. Virginia; 1, West Virginia; 1, 

 Indiana; 1, Florida; 1. Wisconsin; 1, Michigan; 3, Ohio; 3, Illinois. 



The value of this method of ensiling crops may be considered from sev- 

 eral points of view, namely, crop insurance, erosion control, and pasture 

 management. 



Crop Insurance 



During poor haying weather any crop may be ensiled with the knowledge 

 that it will be preserved with a small fraction of the loss common to hay 

 making. 



Erosion Control 



On farms where erosion is a serious factor, legumes and grasses may be 

 planted instead of corn. Silage made from these plants will replace corn 

 silage in the ration of dairy cattle and other animals, as shown not only by 

 experimental work, but also by this survey. Furthermore, with good fertiliza- 

 tion practices, it is possible to get tonnages of these grasses and legumes 

 equivalent to corn and at the same time produce a silage with a higher protein 

 content. 



Pasture Management 



With this system of preserving grasses and legumes it is possible to 

 efificiently manage permanent pastures fertilized for maximum production. 

 The practice of ensiling excess production of pasture grasses fits into the 

 pasture fertilization and management scheme that is now mectli.g with so 

 much favor in the northeastern states. Surplus pasture grasses preserved in 

 this manner will go a long way in keeping up the milk flow in the hot summer 

 period when pastures are short. It affords a means of preserving surplus 

 pasture of high feeding value, which otherwise might be lost. The practice 

 helps to a considerable extent in reducing the cost of producing milk and re- 

 placement animals essential for the dairy enterprise. 



Crops 



This survey shows that a wide range of crops and combinations of crops 

 were used in making grass silage. They include practically all the legumes, 

 cereals, and grasses grown in the northeastern part of the United States. The 

 majority of the operators got very good results from these various materials, 

 indicating that most crops put up properly will make good grass silage. 



