CONTENTS. 11 



CHAPTER VI. 



MY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AT ECHO DALE FARM WITH ENSILAGE 



AND SILOS. 



PAGE 



Why I built a silo. Ensilaging of rye and grass. Filling a silo. Kind of 

 corn, and quantity per acre planted. Building of silo, location of silo, 

 dimensions and capacity. Material used. First time the farmer fills 

 a silo. Kind of fodder-cutter and power used. Description of start- 

 ing with horse-power. Number of men, and how employed in filling 

 silo. Quantity cut per day for ensilage. Full description of filling and 

 covering ensilage in silo. Best time to cut corn-fodder for ensilage. 

 Chemical changes of ensilage. Opening of silo, and condition of ensi- 

 lage. Changes of ensilage after taken from silo. Feeding cattle with 

 ensilage. Condition of stock fed on ensilage. Increase of milk. 

 Quality and flavor of butter. Daily rations of cattle. Preparing of 

 ground for second crop. Building of more silos 31 



CHAPTER VII. 



FILLING THE SILO. 



Kind of power required. Best machine for cutting fodder. Price of engine 

 and boiler; price of fodder-cutter. Best way for farmers who cut no 

 more than a hundred to two hundred tons, showing how to have fodder 

 cut and not invest money for power in full. Full description of filling 

 silos given. When fodder should be cut; most suitable lengths. The 

 great number of parties corresponded with, showing in every case a per- 

 fect success of the workings of silos and ensilage 36 



CHAPTER VIII. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM J. J. H. GREGORY. 



His opinion of ensilage. Kind of corn he recommends to plant for ensilage; 

 his reasons for it; best way of planting and working corn. Weight of 

 stalks that he has grown. Number of tons to the acre. Advantages 

 of this process given 38 



CHAPTER IX. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM GEORGE L. CLEMENCE. 



Planting corn; time to plant; kind of corn. Winter rye for ensilage. 

 Product per acre of corn-fodder. Cost per acre. Machine used for 

 cutting; power used; length to cut. Construction of silo; material for 

 building silos. Description of filling silos. Cost per ton for ensilage 

 from seed to packing in silos. Mixture of rowen with, corn-fodder in 

 silo. Opening of silo, and condition of the contents. Feeding of 

 stock, and the results; quantity, and how often fed. Effect of ensilage 

 upon milk and butter. Quantity of ensilage to keep a cow six months. 



Experiments in feeding stock. Appearance of cattle fed on ensilage. 



Feeding of English hay and ensilage compared. Great advantages 



by ensilage 39 



CHAPTER X. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM B. AUSTIN AVERY. 



Planting corn, kind to plant. Cost per acre. Average yield per acre. 

 Kind of cutter and power used: length to cut. Building of silo; size, 

 cost, and location. Cutting and packing in the silo. Cost per ton of 

 ensilage in silo. Important suggestions in filling silos. Opening of 

 silo. Quantity, and how fed. One hundred head of cattle fed on ensi- 

 lage; showing the effect on horses, calves, milch cows, etc. Fine appear- 

 ance of cattle fed on ensilage; increase of milk. Feeding of turkeys, 



