ENSILAGE. 209 



he weighted the planks with about 500 pounds to the square 

 yard. His movable weight-cover, which gave continuous 

 pressure upon the green ensilage, and thus excluded the 

 air, was the last improvement that he regards as insuring 

 the uniform success of this mode of preserving green fod- 

 der. M. Goffart has tested this system so thoroughly, not 

 only as to its success in preserving the quality of the green 

 food, but as to the effect of the ensilage upon the health 

 and growth of hundreds of cattle, and so many other most 

 intelligent French farmers have verified his results, that we 

 are forced to regard the practicability of the system as 

 established that all the soiling crops that we have described 

 may be preserved in silo, at just the point in their growth 

 when they are most succulent and nutritious and that 

 these green foods may be produced upon all stock farms in 

 the settled portions of the country, in such abundance, 

 that all our stock may be fed upon the most succulent 

 grasses throughout the winter. There may be many details 

 in the system yet to be perfected and improved, but all the 

 important facts are well established, and their probable 

 effects may be considered. 



1st. This discovery continues the soiling system through- 

 out the year. A continuous succession of green food may 

 be presented to our cattle and other stock during their 

 whole lives. This will offer facilities for producing a much 

 more uniform growth in all our stock. It simplifies our 

 feeding operations, and when fully put in practice will 

 supersede all efforts to render hay and other coarse fodder 

 more digestible by cooking. The succulence of ensilage is 

 greater than we can ever hope to produce by cooking. Its 

 digestibility must be very similar to grass eaten in pasture, 

 provided it is preserved at a proper stage of its growth. 



2dly. This system will enable farmers to carry more 

 stock with less grain, and thus save much labor in cultiva- 

 tion of grain crops intended as food for stock. The good 



