SILAGE 289 



silage. The feeding of silage in the winter makes it possible 

 to keep the animals in practically the same condition that 

 they are when on pasture in the summer. A good quality 

 of silage is so palatable that many animals will eat it in 

 preference to grain, and cows will eat silage even when on 

 good pasture. 



As compared with the cutting, shocking, and husking 

 of the corn, the use of the silo is a distinct saving of labor. 

 When putting corn in the silo it is handled but once and 

 then under the most favorable conditions. That is to say, 

 it is handled in large quantities and with an organized force 

 and under favorable weather conditions. The use of the 

 silo is also a cheap and convenient way of handling large 

 amounts of coarse fodder. 



In unpropitious weather, the hay crop may be put in 

 the silo as a means of saving the crop. 



Although other crops may be put in the silo, corn is prac- 

 tically the only one so used in the corn-belt. Corn and 

 cowpeas are sometimes used, as the peas add considerable 

 protein to the silage. Clover, alfalfa, cowpeas, soybeans, 

 kafir, sorghum, cannery refuse, beet pulp, etc., are sometimes 

 put in the silo. 



Corn silage. — Corn for the silo should not be cut too 

 green. The tendency, until quite recently, has been to cut 

 corn for the silo while it was still in the milk stage. A 

 sweeter silage, containing a higher percentage of nutrients, 

 is obtained by cutting the corn when it is just past the milk 

 stage and the lower leaves of the stalk are beginning to die. 

 If cut too ripe, the desired succulence is lost. If, for any 

 reason, the corn has passed the desired stage, the succulence 

 of the silage may be improved b}^ running a stream of water 



