SILO AND ENSILAGE. 383 



of having perfected the system of preserving in silos, for an 

 indefinite time, all green forage crops substantially in their 

 natural condition for food for all kinds of farm stock. 



He began his experiments in 1850, but was only able to 

 preserve his green fodder for three or four weeks, until 1873, 

 when he had better success. Not until 1876 did he discover 

 the necessity of continuous pressure, by which only can 

 complete success be secured. 



Gofiart published his whole experience to the world, and 

 in 1879 J. M. Brown, Esq., of New York, translated and 

 published his work, giving to the farmers of the United 

 States reliable information upon this method that is rapidly 

 producing an entire change in the system of agriculture 

 in this country. 



To Mr. J. M. Brown, as well as to M. Auguste Goffart, 

 do many of our most prominent farmers who have adopted 

 it, acknowledge a debt of gratitude. 



In 1873 Francis M. Appleton of Lynniield, Essex 

 County, while making a tour in Europe, Avas shown in 

 Hungary the method of burying green corn fodder in pits, 

 to make what they called soui; hay. Although much waste 

 resulted from this method, and the contents of the pit 

 opened in what would now be considered bad condition, "it 

 proved a wholesome food for cattle, and an economical system 

 of preserving the fodder. Mr. Appleton obtained from his 

 Hungarian friend a description of it, for publication in this 

 country, which appeared in the American Agriculturist for 

 October, 1873. Mr. Appleton copied it into his essay on 

 Foreign Agricultural Experience, which was published in 

 the Transactions of the Essex Agricultural Society for 1873. 



This is believed to be the first information })u])lished in 

 this country on the subject of ensilage. In 1875 Mr. C. W. 

 Mills of New Jersey buried a large quantity of wliite dent 

 corn which had grown to an enormous size, but failed to 

 mature its ears, in large pits under five feet of earth, for 

 the purpose of getting it out of sight. In the spring, 

 instead of finding a manure heap, he discovered an inmiense 

 quantity of valuable food for his cows, that they liked better 

 than any other fodder. He thus early by accident discov- 



