384 CORN 



people of France, and considerable attention was given to the subject. 

 Many farmers built silos on the basis of Reihlen's experience. In 

 1877, A. Goffart, of France, wrote a book on "Ensilage," which was 

 translated into English and published in New York a year or two later. 



IN UNITED STATES. The first to prepare silage in the United 

 States were Manly Miles, of Michigan, who built two silos in 1875, and 

 Francis Morris, of Maryland, who commenced experiments in this 

 line in .1876. One of the earliest experimenters with silage in the 

 United States was John M. McBryde, whose investigations began at 

 the University of Tennessee in 1879. Several other silos were also 

 built by people in the eastern states within the next few years. In 1882, 

 in a report on silage by the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 statements were published from 91 persons who had silos, 81 of 

 which were in Atlantic seaboard states. No doubt numerous others 

 were in use at that time. 



At the present time the silo is found on many thousands of farms 

 in the United States, especially in dairy regions, and it may be con- 

 sidered a well-established feature in American farm economy where 

 stock feeding is practiced. In fact, the use of silage for beef cattle 

 is meeting with more and more favor. 



There are many reasons why silage should be utilized more largely 

 for the maintenance of farm animals. In almost every soil type and 

 every part of the country where grass cannot be profitably produced, 

 some of the crops suitable for silage can be grown quite successfully. 

 If it happens that there is a shortage in the hay ci'op, the farmer 

 need not sell off his dairy cows if provided with a silo. 



Because grass land has been so cheap and the farm land so pro- 

 ductive, the farmers of different sections of the corn belt have pre- 

 ferred to feed their corn in the form of grain and market it as pork 

 and beef. They have feared what they have always termed an experi- 

 ment. But now the days of experimentation with silage have passed 

 and it is known to be one of the most economical and readily avail- 

 able foods for beef and dairy animals that can be obtained in the corn 

 states. 



Even in the blue grass sections of the country there are times 

 during the year when something must be provided that will be suc- 

 culent and palatable. The fact that silage is so succulent makes it 

 very valuable as a supplementary food during the dry hot spells which 

 are common in the latter part of July and August. 



Because green crops may be preserved in this way, the 

 farmer can by thus handling his forage carry much more stock on 

 his land than by any other method practiced today. It means greater 



