STOCK FEEDING. 21 



TABLE 6. Showing Nutrients in Corn Plant at Different 

 Stages of Growth. 



Dry Matter 

 Per Acre 

 Stage of Growth. (tons). 



Fully tassled 8 



Fully silked 1.5 



Kernels watery to full milk 2.3 



Kernels glazing 3.6 



Ripe 4. 



This table teaches an important lesson, and should discou- 

 rage farmers from cutting young, immature corn, either for 

 silage or soiling purposes. 



Postponing the cutting until the corn has reached the dent- 

 ing or glazing stage also makes silage of better quality. At this 

 stage the plant is less watery and the sugar has been largely 

 converted into starch, thus preventing excessive fermentation 

 and the formation of an undue amount of acid in the silage. 



FILLING THE SILO. When the corn reaches the right stage 

 of maturity, it should be cut at once and hauled from the field 

 to the silo, where the entire plant, ears and all, is run through 

 an ensilage cutter or shredder, cutting it into pieces from 1-2 

 to 1 inch long. The ensilage cutters are provided with car- 

 riers which carry the silage to any height desired in the silo. 



Where silos are rapidly filled, not less than two men should 

 remain constantly in the silo, leveling and distributing the sil- 

 age. This is necessary to insure uniform silage and an even 

 settling. The silage should also be tramped, especially along 

 the edge of the silo where, owing to the friction of the wall, it 

 will not settle as readily as elsewhere. 



In case of rapid filling it is best also to leave the silage to 

 settle a day or two and then refill. After such settling there 

 will be room for considerably more silage. 



COVERING FOR SILAGE. The floor and walls of the silo are 

 air tight by construction, and where the silage has been thor- 

 oughly packed, none should spoil at these places. At the top, 

 however, where the silage is exposed to the air and where it is 

 less solidly packed some of it will naturally spoil. To reduce 

 this loss of silage to a minimum, some cheap materials that will 



