Introduction to Second Edition. xi 



zest and force necessary to sit down to a task of 

 writing a book on any agricultural subject. 



I was subjected to much ridicule for my early en- 

 deavors to introduce soiling, which was called " book 

 farming " and " fancy farming, " etc. And when, late 

 in 1878, I built a silo, and came out strongly in favor 

 of ensilage, it was thought by many to be the climax 

 of folly, while others suggested that I " might have 

 gone wrong in the upper story." In these days 

 (1875 to 1880) I went about the State visiting farm- 

 ers' clubs, and discussing soiling and ensilage. I 

 was quite young at the time, just out of my teens, 

 and my views — however reasonable they appeared 

 while I was before my audience — lost much of their 

 force, I fear, on account of my youthful appearance. 

 However, I kept on talking soiling, in season and 

 out, until the Farmers' Institutes were established 

 and ensilage at least became a popular theme. 



Ensilage has produced quite a revolution in farm- 

 ing, but that is only "winter soiling," and has not 

 accomplished half of what may be done by pursuing 

 the method all the year round, for, as I have always 

 claimed, summer soiling has many advantages over 

 winter soiling, as will be shown further on, so that, 

 although ensilage has made such wonderful strides, 

 it by no means represents the best half of the sys- 

 tem. 



"Why then," it may be asked, "has ensilage pre- 

 ceded soiling? " Principally, I believe, because it 

 was a new and startling discovery, and required an 

 outlay of capital to begin with. Soon after ensilage 



