SUNFLOWER HEADS AND BLACKEYE PEAS AS 

 SILAGE CROPS. 

 J. M. Bartlett. 



In growing crops economically for this purpose two very important 

 points must be considered. 



1st. The adaptability of the crop to the process, its keeping quali- 

 ties &c. 



2nd. Its productiveness. 



Corn is acknowledged by every one who has had much ex- 

 perience in the matter to be the great silage crop of this country. 

 It is true that many other crops have been successfully kept 

 in the silo but there is no other fodder which so uniformly produces 

 good silage as corn. 



If allowed to mature until the kernels become glazed it fur- 

 nishes a valuable, succulent food for winter use, much relished by 

 stock. It does not make, however, when fed with hay alone a pro- 

 perly balanced ration for milch cows. Both the grain and stalks 

 are deficient in protein therefore it is necessary to feed with it some 

 foods like cotton seed or linseed meal rich in protein to secure 

 the best results. 



Professor Robertson of Toronto, has suggested putting other fod- 

 ders quite rich in protein with corn in the silo to make a more 

 nearly balanced food. Horse beans and sunflower heads are the 

 materials he uses and silage thus made has come to be called the 

 Eobertson Mixture. As a rule fodders rich in protein, like the leg- 

 umes, do not keep 'well when put in the silo alone, but mixed with 

 corn they are usually quite well preserved. 



At the time this experiment was made, horse beans could not 

 be obtained, consequently peas, which have about the same composi- 

 tion, were substituted. 



It was necessary to plant them late in the season that they might 

 not mature too early for the corn and sunflowers. The latter part of 

 the season was unfavorable to their growth, mildew affecting - them 

 badly and consequently the yield was rather light. The sunflowers 

 were grown on land put in the same condition as for corn, and the 

 seed was planted one foot apart in drills three and one-half feet apart. 

 The plants grew well and a good average yield was secured. The 



expense of raising the crop may be estimated to be the same as for 

 corn. 



The proportions of the different materials used for the silage 

 was the same as for the Eobertson Mixture namely: one-fourth 

 acre sunflowers, and one-half acre of peas to one acre of corn. A 11 were 

 run through the cutter, packed in the silo by the ordinary method, 

 and as is elsewhere noted, the silage kept perfectly and when opened 

 in February was found to be in first class condition. 



