116 H. R. STEVENS ON ENSILAGE. 



Animals used in experiments, the stock ones of farm. Ages in 

 last four sets varying from one to three years ; also some difference 

 in blood, majority short-horn or Devon grades. In Set 1, animals 

 stabled all the time, all others allowed to run out during day. No. 

 14 greatly in favor of ensilage, as showing its milk-producing quali- 

 ties : cow not only came back to her milk, but gave a good flow during 

 its continuance. Bull No. 16 was an animal singularly savage and 

 unprofitable ; we have been anxious to get rid of him for some time. 

 With these allowances, and the further facts, that, for the first week, 

 the animals ate the ensilage freely, but not as greedily as afterwards ; 

 that they were (as will always be the case in changing from dry to 

 green food) scoured for three or four days ; that the month was the 

 coldest ever known, and that all the loss was in the first ten days ; 

 that No. 9 virtually held her own, the experiments even of this set 

 are favorable to ensilage. Still if one wishes to do more- than 

 merely "maintain" his animals, the ensilage must be enriched (as 

 I hold) by albuminous food. Hence, if due allowance be made for 

 previous treatment of Nos. 1 and 4, Set II. gave better results, as 

 these two animals did not eat more than one-half of the rations 

 allowed them. In Set III., Nos. 12 and 13 more than doubled 

 No. 7 ; the difference in favor of this set over II. showing the 

 value of albuminous matters. Set V. compared with IV. again gives 

 results decidedly in favor of ensilage ; No. 8 more than doubling- 

 No. 3, and No. 11, No. 5. No. 10 was a grade Devon; No. 2 a 

 grade short-horn ; hence the latter had the advantage of blood. The 

 results on the whole are very favorable to ensilage. 



Wishing abundant success to your new work, I am 

 Yours respectfully, 



J M. M'BRYDE. 



CHAPTEE XXXVII. 



FROM CHARLES L. FLINTS BOOK ON GRASSES AND FORAGE-PLANTS 

 (A VALUABLE AND INSTRUCTIVE WORK), 



RED CLOVER ( Trifolium pratense) , though not included in the family 

 of grasses, is not only extensively cultivated, but is found to be one 

 of the most valuable and economical forage-plants. It belongs to 



