ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN's ASSOCIATION. S9 



Wednesday, Dec. 12, 9 a. m. 



After the convention was called to order, topic No. 2 

 was again resumed, as the subject of soiling was considered 

 of great importance to the dairyman. 



G. P. Lord said he had read in the Country Gentleman 

 how we could cut but 40 tons per acre, of green corn, while 

 in France it is claimed 120 tons can be raised. Now can 

 we raise 1 20 tons per acre ? If one person can do it, all 

 can do it. Under the same circumstances, he believed corn 

 fodder very valuable feed for milch cows when dry weather 

 usually begins. In August, he began feeding 40 head one 

 bushel of cut-corn fodder per day — i. e., run through a 

 cutting machine. One-third of an acre would make 1,600 

 messes ; this was cheap feed. To make it pay we must 

 keep more stock on the same land ; we must make more 

 than we do now. The French people have a mode peculiar 

 to themselves. They dig deep trenches in the ground and 

 bury the green corn, which comes out sweet and good — is 

 kept in this manner for a long time — when it is freely eaten 

 by the cattle. Anyone could try it, it costs nothing. 



Dr. Tefft thought this an important question, and 

 should be further discussed. He quoted from a paper read 

 by ex-Governor Price, of New York, on this subject, show- 

 ing the plan of burying. Said it was chopped fine and then 

 spread in layers in ditches, with layers of straw, and then 

 covered two feet deep with earth ; pains is taken to close 

 all cracks or openings. When taken out it showed no fer- 

 mentation, and stock would eat it readily. Could be kept 

 sweet by this plan for one year. If this is a fact, we can 

 keep our cows cheaper than we now do. Two acres would 

 keep a cow for one year. 



