STOKING THE CROP IN SILO. 231 



The system of milk production, as heretofore carried on, 

 cannot be remunerative without grain-feeding during some 

 portion of the year, whilst under the general system of 

 ensilage, grain-feeding will not be necessary for the profit- 

 able production of meat, milk or wool. This being true, 

 it does not follow that grain may not be fed at a profit, 

 but this new system may render every farm independent of 

 grain if it chooses to rely upon its own resources. 



CUTTING CROP AND FILLING SILO. 



The best machine for cutting corn and all ensilage crops, 

 except, perhaps, clover and the ordinary grasses, is a 

 strong, self-rake reaper, laying it off in compact gavels, 

 which may be bound into bundles or loaded without bind- 

 ing. Corn may be lifted from the gavel upon the wagon 

 without gathering up stones or sticks to injure the cutter. 

 The reaper will cut an acre of heavy corn as quick as 20 

 men with ordinary hand corn-cutters. If the corn must 

 be cut by hand, then a stout corn-cradle in the hands of a 

 skillful man will do the best execution. Three teams, with 

 two men to help load in field, will haul corn, from a short 

 distance, as fast as it can be run through the cutter. And 

 there has been no way yet devised better than to have the 

 corn lifted from the wagon by hand upon a table behind 

 the cutter, and have it passed through the cutter as fast as 

 it is delivered upon the table. With an extra wagon the 

 teams will not be delayed at the cutter. 



The cutter must be placed so that the cut corn or grass 

 will fall directly into the silo, or be run from the cutter 

 into the silo by a carrier. Carriers are very easily arranged 

 by belts and canvas so as to elevate it 8 to 12 feet as fast 

 as it can be cut. 



In hauling winter rye, millet, peas, oats, etc., these may 

 be lifted upon the wagon with a strong gavel-fork, without 



