at Home and Abroad. 
137 
Although all these agriculturists were in advance of M. Gof- 
fart as regards the practice of ensilage, it must always be 
acknowledged that the chief merit of M. Goffart is that he was 
the first to describe practically, as he did in the first edition of 
his well-known book,* which was published in 1877, the 
complete details of the process of ensilage, especially with 
reference to green maize. It is by no means his fault if he has 
been mistranslated by his American admirers. The records of 
diplomacy show that the politicians of the United States have 
been especially liable to mistakes in the translation of foreign 
languages, and it is not surprising that American agriculturists 
still retain the same foible. They have made him claim a 
priority which he has not claimed for himself. The real fact is 
summed up by the reporter of the Section of " Grande Culture " 
of the Societe Nationale d'' Agriculture de France" when, in the 
name of that Section, on June 19th, 1883, he recommended 
that M. GofFart should be awarded the highest distinction which 
the Society could give, namely, an Object of Art, as an " acte 
de bonne justice en recompensant un agriculteur qui a tant con- 
tribue a repandre la meilleure methode d'ensilage" and again, 
pour les services importants qui^l a rendus a V agriculture en 
vulgarisant les meilleurs procedes d'ensilage et de conservation du 
mais four rage f 
Pjractice. 
In order to obtain authentic statements of the experiences of 
those who had already attempted the system of ensilage for 
British fodder crops, I issued the following list of questions to 
a large number of English and a few foreign agriculturists : — 
List of Questions. 
1. What are the dimensions of your silo ? 
2. Is it above or below the level of the soil ? 
3. How is it constructed, especially as to materials ? And have you made 
any experiments with silos not covered by a durable or permanent roof? 
4. What was its first cost, and how long do you expect it to last ? 
5. When did you fill your silo ? 
6. If not yet filled, when do you propose to fill it ? 
7. What crop or crops do you preserve by the process of ensilage ? 
8. In what state do you use them, viz., unripe, ripe, or over-ripe? 
y. Are the crops pitted in a whole or chopped state ? 
10. If in a chopped state, what is the average length of the cuttings ? 
11. Do you mix with the main substance, or crop, any other material ; for 
instance, straw, or salt, and if so, why ? 
12. Is the silo filled at one operation as quickly as possible, or are intervals 
* ' Manuel de la Culture et de I'Ensilage des Mai's et autres fourrages verts.' 
Par Auguste Goffart. 
t ' Goffart,' 4th Edition, p. 260. 
