166 FORAGH OROPS 
value of the two kinds of forage. There is no 
question, therefore, of the value of this method of 
preserving corn for food. Whenever farmers have 
a sufficient number of dairy, beef or young cattle 
to warrant the building of a silo, there will be no 
question as to the advantage of the system. 
The gains in the making of silage over the 
using of the grain and stover, are, (1) the preven- 
tion of mechanical losses in the harvesting of the 
corn; (2) the advantage of the removal of the 
entire crop at one time, so as to permit of a more 
rapid growth and development of cover-crops, 
which are so important in the conservation of 
fertility; (8) reduction in actual cost of labor 
per unit of feed obtained, whig¢h will result when- 
ever farmers are equipped for the rapid handling 
of large quantities of material in a short time. 
The silo is as much a part of the equipment of 
dairy farms in the North and East, as the corn- 
crib is of the farms of the West. 
CoMPOSITION OF CoRN FoDDER AND SILAGE 
Dried One ton One ton One ton 
fodder contains Stover contains Silage contains 
Per cent Lbs. Per cent. Lbs, Per cent Lbs. 
Water... . 42.20 Cae 40.50 rae 79.10 oe Me 
Dry matter . 57.80 1,156 59.50 1,190 20.90 418 
Ether extract. 1.60 32 1.10 22 0.80 16 
Fiber... . 14.30 286 19.70 394 - 6.00 120 
Protein... 450 90 3.80 76 1.70 34 
Ash... .. 2.70 50 3.40 68 1.40 28 
Nitrogen-free 
extract . . 34.70 694 31.50 630 11.00 220 
