14 //. .R. STEVENS ON ENSILAGE. 



CHAPTER XX. 



PRACTICAL EXPERIMENTS WITH ENSILAGE, BY PROFESSOR M*BRYDE. 



PAGE 



First experiments; French experiments. Description of pit, or silo, dug in 

 the earth; neither bricked nor cemented. Full description of filling 

 and keeping ensilage in this pit. On opening this pit, and feeding cattle. 

 Description of silos built, and filling the same with corn-fodder and 

 clover. Cost of filling silos. Weight of ensilage per cubic foot. 

 Weight of cubic foot of clover ensilaged. Description of silo. No. 3, and 

 filling same with corn-fodder, clover, hay, straw, and German millet. 

 Results and experiments of ensilaging corn or grasses in the naked clay 

 or earth. Description of soils; reasons why it keeps better. Chemical 

 changes of ensilage while in silo 81 



CHAPTER XXI. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM JAMES S. CHAFFEE. 



Planting corn; kind, quantity, and cost per acre. Product per acre. Cut- 

 ting-machine used. Length to cut corn-fodder. Size of silo; most 

 suitable form and size, and best material to build silos. Cost per ton 

 of raising, and packing in silo. Condition of ensilage when taken from 

 silo; how cattle appeared when first fed. Experience in feeding stock; 

 how often fed. Quantity to keep a cow six months. General appear- 

 ance of cattle fed on ensilage. A test of milk tried, of cows fed on 

 ensilage and on hay. Superior importance of this subject over all others 

 in farming 86 



CHAPTER XXII. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM O. B. POTTER. 



Number of years Mr. Potter has practised ensilage. Time to cut; length 

 to cut. Size of silos; description and diagram of sectional silos. Fill- 

 ing of silos. Cutting-machine and power used. Opening of silos and 

 condition of ensilage. Feeding ensilage and different grains and quan- 

 tities to all kinds of stock. increase of milk. Appearance of stock 

 fed on ensilage. Feeding ensilage compared with dry fodder. Supe- 

 rior food. Feeding of sheep on ensilage. Two crops per year on same 

 land. Success in preserving fodder. Mixing fodder in the pits. Ensi- 

 lage superior to soiling 89 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM JACOB PUGSLEY. 



Variety of corn to plant. Cost of corn-fodder per acre. Average yield per 

 acre. Cutter used; length to cut. Size of silo; best form and size and 

 material for silo. Cutting and packing in silo. Cost per ton of filling 

 silo. Ensilage when taken from silo. Feeding, and the results; expo- 

 sure to the air. Quantity per cow per day. Gain in milk. Cattle fed 

 on ensilage. Feeding on ensilage the year round. Four essential points 

 for farmers to bear in mind. Advantages and profits of ensilage . . 94 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM F. S. PEER. 



Corn-fodder; kind and quantity to plant. Kind of cutter and power used. 



Length to cut. Size of silo; experience with silos. Cutting, and pack- 

 ing in silos. Number of tons put in silo per day. Opening of silo, and 

 condition of ensilage. Quantity fed, and how often. Effect of ensilage 

 on milk and butter. Feeding with ensilage compared with other fodder. 



Feeding of all kinds of stock cows, cattle, sheep, calves, and colts 



on ensilage. Total cost of ensilage 99 



