142. THE GRASSES— SILOS AND ENSILAGE. 



For this reason over well-dried hay is a mistake, as 

 the process of converting the starch into sugar ought 

 to go on in the rick, producing a gentle heat if not 

 overdone, and improving the flavour and digestibility 

 of the product. The point to be attended to, there- 

 fore, is to put up the hay not too much dried, so that 

 the cells may be living and able to form sugar, but yet 

 dry enough to prevent oxidation or heating from going 

 past the sugar stage, and thus spoiling the stalk : keep 

 it green, fragrant, and with the maximum of sugar. 

 The way to do this can only be learnt by experience. 



Silos and Ensilage. 



Dr. AiTKEN, Chemist of the Highland and Agri- 

 cultural Society of Scotland, thus summarises the 

 advantages of ensilage : — 



(i) It secures the crop at its juiciest and most nutri- 

 tious period of growth ; (2) it is independent of the 

 weather ; (3) it is suitable for late districts, or for late 

 wet seasons, when hay cannot be weU made or oats 

 properly ripened ; (4) it enables the crop to be early 

 taken off the ground — whereby the land may be sooner 

 made available for other purposes, such as pasturing or 

 sowing a second crop ; (S) it prevents loss when grass 

 comes away too abundantly, or when there is too much 

 roughness on the pastures ; (6) it enables all kinds of 

 waste grass from road-sides and plantations to be 

 secured in good condition; (7) it is more economical 

 to produce, and is a better feeding material than tur- 



