158 FOBAGE CROPS 



therefore, the stage of maturity of the ear is the 

 best guide as to time of cutting. 



When cut at this stage, a good yield will reach 

 twelve tons per acre. This does not seem large, 

 yet the crop will carry about 25 to 28 per cent dry 

 matter, or an equivalent of over 6,000 pounds of 

 actual dry substance per acre, which is greater 

 than can be produced by any other cereal crop. 

 When much lai'ger yields of dry matter than this 

 are reported, the probabilities are that it is pro- 

 duced on a smaller area specially treated, or in an 

 exceptional season, or under unusual conditions of 

 soil and climate. The reported average yields of 

 twenty, twenty-five and thirty tons per aci'e, which 

 are often noted, are evidently based on forage 

 containing very much less dry matter. When it is 

 remembered that it is a question not of tonnage of 

 silage corn, but of dry substance that is involved, 

 the grower should not base his expectations of 

 feed production on statements of extraordinary 

 yields, as he will surely be disappointed. 



If a crop has become too- dry to go into the silo 

 in the best condition, the wetting of it may help 

 somewhat to preserve the silage, but it must be 

 kept in mind that water cannot take the place of 

 the natural juices and the activity of living cells. 

 If leaves and stalks have become dry, the cells 

 have become filled with air and the adding of 

 water can only partly displace it. The chief help 



