Legume and Grass Silage 



17 



is too dry, thus showing that they reahzed the danger of insufficient water 

 in the material being ensiled. 



Ho%^' -iCas prcsen'atk'c added? 



The majority of operators used the gravity system for adding pre- 

 servative. Of those using molasses 237 reported having used the gravity 

 method: 29 used the air-pressure method; while 15 applied molasses by 

 sprinkler and 3 by pump. Thirty-one of the 34 phosphoric acid operators 

 applied their preservative by gravity while 3 applied the acid by sprinkler 

 in the silo. 



Method of prcscrz'atioii preferred. 



Very few operators reported any preference as to methods of preserva- 

 tion of silage, since few of them have used more than one method. 



Kind of Crop Ensiled 



The table shown on page 16 gives the number of operators using the 

 various types of materials for molasses silage. Those reporting phosphoric 

 acid silage show that 13 used 75% alfalfa; 9 used 50% alfalfa; 6 used mixed 

 grasses ; and 3 used non-legumes. 



Estimated Yields 



The yields on some of the crops reported show that the average tonnage 

 of green weight per acre was as follows : 



Stage of Maturity at Cutting 



Forty-seven operators reported cutting their various grasses and legumes 

 in the pre-bloom stage; 109 cut their materials in the half-bloom stage; 129 in 

 the full-bloom stage ; and 35 after the bloom stage. 



Sixty-two operators made the suggestion that grasses and legumes be 

 cut early, thus showing that they realized the superior feeding value of 

 crops cut at this stage. 



