158 FORAGE 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 larger 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 acre, 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 
