CHAPTER IX 
CORN FOR SILAGE 
THE prime means of utilizing the green corn 
crop is in the form of silage, particularly in dairy 
districts. By this use the largest amount of diges- 
tible feed may be obtained per acre, and in a suc- 
culent and highly palatable form. Since the use of 
the silo became an important question there has 
been very great improvement in the growing of 
corn for silage and in its storage. In the early his- 
tory of the silo it was recommended that corn of 
the larger varieties be planted very thickly, and be 
stored before it had nearly reached a stage of 
maturity. The consequence was, that, while large 
crop yields were secured, the high content of water 
and the consequently low content of dry matter 
were detrimental both in increasing the cost of 
handling and the difficulties of its preservation; 
the feed value was not increased, and wastes from 
decay in the silo were very serious. Investigations 
on the growing of corn and ensiling it have 
shown that the general principles involved in the 
growing of forage, as already pointed out, are 
quite as applicable in the growing of corn for 
silage as for soiling or for fodder. 
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