EKSILAGE OF FODDER. 89 



the most skillful warriors, and carried with them to the 

 conquered countries their civilization and their peaceful 

 arts, thus laying the foundation for the future progress of 

 tliat continent. In this manner the silo was introduced 

 i first among the Huns in Hungary, and then into Ger- 

 many and France, where it remained until 1872 in 

 the same condition. Then M. Groffart, an enterprising 

 French gentleman, built the first silo of masonry, with 

 solid air-tight walls, and a covering of planks weighted 

 down with heavy stone. This cover, with constant 

 pressure, is the great improvement made by M. Goffart 

 in the silo; and to him also is the system of ensilage in- 

 debted for the practice of cutting the green fodder into 

 short lengths so as to cause it to pack more solidly in 

 the silo, and when taken out to be in convenient form 

 for feeding. When this form of silo is operated expertly 

 the green food should not pass beyond the saccharine 

 stage of fermentation, and when taken from the silo and 

 exposed to the air the alcoholic fermentation soon begins. 

 In this state the ensilage (preserved fodder) is in its best 

 condition for feeding, and its food value is probably 

 equal to what it would have been at the time of packing 

 in the silo — that is, the changes have improved its di- 

 gestibility as much as fermentation has reduced its 

 weight of dry substance. 



M. Goffart published a book on the subject which was 

 translated and published by Mr. J. B. Brown, of New 

 York (President of the New York Plow Company, and 

 an accomplished farmer), and it is through Mr. Brown's 

 unselfish efforts that the practice became extremely popu- 

 lar, and in time reached its present stage and condition. 



In 1879 Dr. J. M. Bailey, of Billerica, Mass., built the 

 first double silo of concrete masonry, and stored about 

 125 tons of corn ensilage, which gave him much satisfac- 

 tion in feeding. His report stimulated inquiry and ex- 

 periment in the new process. 



