SUNFLOWERS AND ENGLISH HORSE BEANS AS 

 SILAGE CROPS. 



J. M. Bartlett. 



For three seasons sunflowers have been grown on a small 

 scale for a silage crop. In 1894 and 1895 very fair yields were 

 secured but the season of 1896 was very favorable and an 

 exceedingly heavy crop was the result. 



Horse beans have been grown for two seasons, but owing to 

 late planting and drought the crop of 1895 was not up to the 

 average yield. In 1896 the seed was planted early for this 

 climate, May 18th. The plants grew well, attaining a height 

 of 3 to 4 feet, and contained many matured pods when har- 

 vested. A good yield was secured but it is possible that it could 

 have been made somewhat larger, without impairing the quality, 

 by planting somewhat closer. The plants stood about one foot 

 apart in drills three to three and one-half feet apart. 



Both crops were harvested September 8-10, run through 

 the silage cutter and mixed with corn in the silo, in the follow- 

 ing proportions : one-fourth acre of sunflowers, one-half acre of 

 horse beans, and one acre of corn. The whole plant of one-half 

 of the sunflowers was put in the silo mixed with corn and beans. 

 Of the remaining half the heads only were used. 



Both mixtures were found to be well preserved when the silo 

 was opened in January, and were greedily eaten by the cows. 

 The stalks of the sunflowers were so large and coarse that it 

 seemed doubtful whether the cattle would eat them, but after 

 being ensiled the mixture was as well relished as the pure corn. 

 The cost of growing these crops can be estimated to be about 

 the same as that of corn. The land should be put in about 

 the same condition and the labor of caring for them is not 

 materially different 



