CHAPTER XV. 



THE ENSILAGE OF FODDER. 



I. Concerning Silage. 



The preservation of beet leaves, beet waste, and other green forage 

 by gathering into heaps or into earthen pits and covering with earth 

 has long been practiced in Europe. In 1877 the French farmer, Gof- 

 fart, published his "Manual of the Culture and Siloing of Maize and 

 Other Green Crops," the first book of its kind, covering 25 years of 

 practical experience. To Goffart belongs the credit of describing the 

 first modern silo and of observing and recommending the peculiar 

 merits and advantages of the maize (corn) plant for silage. In 1876 

 Francis Morris, Oakland Manor, Howard county, Maryland, built the 

 first silo in America. In 1879 Mr. J. B. Brown of New York gave 

 American readers a translation of Goffart 's book, and in 1880 Dr. 

 J. M. Bailey issued ' ' The Book of Ensilage, the New Dispensation for 

 Farmers." In 1881 Professor I. P. Roberts^ of Cornell University, 

 and the author- at the University of Wisconsin, built and filled the 

 first silos used for experimental purposes in America. By these means 

 silos and silage were brought prominently before the farmers of this 

 country, and the interest which was awakened has steadily increased 

 until the ensilage of fodders has become a factor of vast importance 

 in American agriculture. 



347. Indian corn for silage. — Indian corn is preeminently suited 

 for silage. The solid, succulent stems, when cut into short lengths, 

 pack closely and form a solid mass which not only keeps well but fur- 

 nishes a product that is greatly relished by stock — especially cattle. 

 It is reasonable to estimate that there are over 100,000 silos now in 

 use in America. Probably 95 per ct. of all the forage stored in them 

 is from the corn plant and 95 per ct. of the silage made is fed to 

 dairy cows. (220) 



348. Losses by ensiling and field curing. — After studying the 

 losses of forage preserved in wooden silos during 4 seasons at the 

 Wisconsin Station,^ King concludes that, omitting the top and bot- 

 tom waste, which is the same for deep or shallow silos, the losses of 



^ From information to the author. 



^ Ept. on Amber Cane and the Ensilage of Fodders, 1881, pp. 60-69. 

 ' Bui. 59. 

 16 225 



