96 n. E. STEVENS ON ENSILAGE. 



value of the land, my own cost me about two dollars per ton in the 

 silo. 



In regard to size and shape of silo, every thing would depend on 

 the size of farm and the method of using ensilage. If one intended to 

 make the ensilage merely a small adjunct to the other farming, then a 

 comparatively large single silo would be best ; but my own opinion is, 

 that, where ensilage is practised, the whole arable portion of the farm 

 will be devoted to it ; and in this case smaller silos, holding about a 

 hundred and twenty-five tons each, will be far better, as we shall 

 have a succession of crops to put in. Also, one of the smaller silos 

 can be filled sooner, which I regard as of much importance. To hold 

 the above amount, a silo must be twenty-five feet long, sixteen feet 

 wide, and fourteen feet deep, and must be filled a second time after 

 the first filling has settled. Six such silos in a set will hold feed for 

 a hundred cows, allowing one each for rye and millet, and two each 

 for clover and corn. Then, in feeding, a variety can be given each 

 day. If built in this way the silos would, of course, be placed side 

 by side ; being, in fact, one great silo with partitions, each compart- 

 ment having its own opening into the stable. 



In nine cases out of ten, concrete of water-lime, sand, and small 

 stones, will be far cheaper and better than any other material. 



I have been feeding ensilage once a day to cows for three months ; 

 have fed no other stock. 



The cows eat it clean, and do well on it. Some that I have fed 

 for two weeks on ensilage three times a day, and no other food 

 except about eight pounds of corn-meal and bran, have gained fully 

 ten per cent in milk ; previously, they were fed the same grain, ensi- 

 lage once a day, and good hay ad libitum. 



It is immaterial as to what time of the day it is fed. I do not 

 expose the ensilage to the air before feeding, as fermentation has 

 already progressed a little too far, owing to the air not being thor- 

 oughly expelled by pressure immediately after filling the silo. 



No perceptible change takes place in the ensilage, if thrown down 

 in a heap for two or three days before feeding. This may be owing 

 to the cold weather ; though I think not, but suppose the ensilage to 

 be in a condition which does not specially induce further decomposi- 

 tion. 



I feed about twenty pounds once a day to each of my cows, eight 

 pounds grain, and what hay they will eat. 



I think six tons of ensilage can be put up as cheaply as one ton of 



