510 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jane 20 , 188’. 
to countermand that order by the threatening aspect of the clouds 
and a steadily falling barometer, indications which proved true 
•enough of the heavy rain which set in and continued falling long 
after that Bank Holiday was past and gone. Some days previously 
we had seen the mowing of a fine crop of Clover and Sainfoin in 
progress upon many farms. The growth of such crops is exception¬ 
ally heavy and succulent this year, and the risk of damage to the 
stover from heavy rain is proportionately great ; yet all the risk 
■and its attendant anxiety, together with much of the expense, 
might be avoided if only ensilage were to take its rightful place in 
’the economy of every farm. It is bound to do so eventually, and 
-it has already entered sufficiently into the practice of many leading 
Tarmers to show clearly how important a factor it is in profitable 
farming. 
Since stack silage was proved to be so excellent the only 
■obstacle to ensilage by tenant farmers was removed, and with con¬ 
viction of its value as an article of food it must come into general 
<use. What, then, are its especial advantages ? First of all comes 
the simplicity and ease with which it is made. Grass, Clover, 
Tares, Rye Grass, Lucerne, and Sainfoin are all available for the 
•purpose ; no “ making ” or preparation of any sort is required. 
When the crop is fully grown mow it, collect it at once, and cart to 
-the stack, then apply pressure at the rate of 200 lbs. per square 
-foot, and excellent silage is a certain result. Surely its very 
■simplicity is a hindrance to its adoption by many a farmer. The 
primary expense cannot be so, for it only involves the purchase of 
-a Johnson’s, Blunt’s, or Reynolds’ press, as the case may be. Let 
it be understood clearly that all the anxiety, uncertainty, and ex¬ 
pense of haymaking are avoided, and a rich store of nutritious 
wholesome food provided for winter. We do not, of course, intend 
~to imply that haymaking is to be altogether set aside, far from it, 
Rut we do assert that ensilage is desirable for most, if not all, 
-fodder for home consumption, and that hay may be made for sale 
•when it appears desirable and the weather is favourable. 
That silage will eventually take the place of hay for home use is 
most probable. It is also probable that it will take the place of roots 
very generally. It has been proved at Woburn that bullocks thrive 
better on silage than on a mixed diet of straw, chaff, and roots, the 
■advantage in one trial being a daily gain of two-thirds of a pound 
•and in another of 1 lb. This is a matter of immense importance, 
•easily realised by comparison of the risk and expense of root culture 
■with that of fodder crops. It points to benefits to the farmer of 
Incalculable value. It renders his food supply in winter a cer¬ 
tainty, it enables him to effect a considerable saving both in hay¬ 
making and root culture, and thereby affords precisely the relief he 
•so much wants under the difficulties of the heavy depression, which 
now tries him so sorely. The Ensilage Commission in their Report 
•claim that ensilage renders the farmer independent of weather in 
saving his crops ; that it increases the productive capabilities of 
farms in greater weight of forage saved, in greater available variety 
•and rotation of crops, in increased facility of storage. The Com. 
mission also points to its value for feeding dairy stock, breeding 
•stock, store stock, fattening stock, and farm horses. It was the 
•evidence given before the Commission which led to these con¬ 
clusions. The value of silage was show to be one-third more 
weight for weight of the value of the same material made into 
:good hay. It was also shown that Grass well preserved as silage, 
•after deduction of loss, will yield approximately five times the 
weight of the same Grass made into hay ; or that 5 tons of silage, 
taken at one-third the value of hay per ton, yields a profit of over 
<00 per cent, as compared with a ton of hay. 
Of its especial value for dairy stock we may usefully quote the 
words of the Commission:—“ We have received the strongest 
•evidence of the undoubted advantage of the system for the feeding 
of dairy stock. The effect of dry winter food given to such stock 
bas always been to reduce in quantity and to deteriorate in quality 
milk, cream, and butter as compared with the same products result¬ 
ing from green summer food. Although the degree of perfection 
attainable in summer has not been reached, it has been at least 
much more neaily approached by ensilage than by the use of hay 
and other dry food, while at the same time the objections insepar¬ 
able from the employment of roots for this purpose have been 
overcome. A sensible improvement in the colour of butter has 
been especially noticed.” We insert this quotation as being of 
especial importance, as the effect of silage upon the flavour of 
butter has been repeatedly in question. No doubt some care is 
required in its use, but then it would be a rash proceeding indeed 
to venture upon a full diet of silage, or any other change of food, 
without ascertaining by trial if such a proceeding was safe. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Changes of weather with much rain have proved very trying for 
newly shorn sheep, but we do not suppose they have sustained any 
material harm. We like to have the wool off early in June, for the risk 
of harm from fly is then considerable. We have had several slight 
attacks of this pest in the home farm flock, but the application of some 
Cuff's dressing set matters right at once. We always have the sheep 
dipped in Cooper’s dressing as soon after the shearing as we can, in 
order to get rid of any ticks remaining among the wool, and as a pre¬ 
ventive of fly attacks. .It is well to wait till any wounds inflicted by 
clumsy shearing are healed before dipping, and subsequently the 
shepherd is instructed to watch the sheep narrowly, and not to depend 
upon anything as giving complete immunity from fly attacks. There is 
also always some risk when moving sheep from one farm to another of 
contact with other sheep, and it must never be forgotten that scab is 
infectious and spreads quickly in a flock, but ife can always be got rid of 
quickly by the use of Cuff’s or Cooper’s dressing. The high price of 
lambs is well sustained ; some specially selected but not fat lambs sold on 
June 12th realised 42s. each, others were sold at 36s. 6d., 32s., and 30s., 
all at prices considerably above those of last season. Sheep are for the 
moment regarded as the one bright spot in the gloomy sky of farming, 
and those farmers who have continued to maintain a full flock through 
adverse years have now ample reason for congratulation. As the lambs 
are withdrawn from the ewes, the crones, or over-age ewes, with barrens 
and other faulty animals, should all be drafted from the flock to be 
fattened for the butcher. Far better is it to do this than to retain 
doubtful animals for breeding purposes, and so run a risk of loss and 
failure next spring. It is good practice, too, to retain a certain number 
of ewe lambs for the flock every year. Depend upon it there are no 
animals equal to home-bred ones. At any rate that is our experience, 
for we never did purchase a flock of really sound ewes. All who can 
will doubtless hold the lambs over for hoggets, now that feed is so 
abundant, and the promise of a bountiful supply of winter food so 
great. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Abortion of a Sow—Duckling's Dying (T. P). — The abortion 
in your sow may be caused by either of the thirus you suggest. Do not 
attempt breeding from her again, but fatten and dispose of her and pro¬ 
cure another. It is an inflexible rule of ours never to keep a doubtful 
animal for breeding purposes, and you will find it answer best to follow 
the same rule rather than try and apply a remedy to a fault of which 
the cause is so doubtful. Keep the ducklings out of the water on a dry 
floor. Feed with oatmeal, and see that the drinking vessel contains very 
little water. As the season is so much advanced you will probably have 
very little more trouble. AVe rear a large number of early ducklings, 
care being taken to keep them from water, from exposure to cold 
draughts, and fresh Barley straw is put on the floor for them daily. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 35' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8'0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
Hygrome- 
d . 
Shade Tem- 
Radiation 
d 
1889. 
ter. 
V d 
or 
perature. 
Temperature. 
ci 
« 
June. 
££ 
d o*~ 
In 
On 
ttS 5 
Dry. 
Wet. 
So 
H 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
deft. 
dee- 
deg. 
dee. 
dee. 
dee. 
In. 
Sunday. 
29.658 
54.8 
52.3 
E.N.E. 
61.0 
62.1 
54.1 
84 2 
50.3 
0.614 
Monday. 
JO 
29.683 
50.0 
49.5 
N.W. 
58 9 
53.5 
49 7 
73.2 
49.1 
0 487 
Tuesday ... 
11 
29 8 15 
53.2 
53.2 
N.E. 
57.0 
57.9 
48 7 
65 7 
49.3 
0.010 
Wednesday. 
12 
29.9 ;l 
58 3 
55.2 
W. 
56.7 
66 9 
53 8 
89 0 
54.0 
Thursday... 
13 
29 954 
60 2 
58.3 
Calm. 
57.4 
73.8 
55.2 
104.8 
51.6 
_ 
Friday . 
29.998 
59.1 
54 8 
S. 
58 1 
65.2 
52.4 
88 1 
47.2 
_ 
\8aturday ... 
15 
29.977 
60.1 
56.9 
s.w. 
57.9 
66.9 
54.4 
91.5 
49.4 
0.132 
29.872 
56.5 
543 
581 
63 8 
52.6 
85.2 
50.1 
1243 
REMARKS. 
9th.—Cloudy and cool. 
10th.—Very heavy rain In early morning; wet all day and night. 
11th.—Wet till 10 AM., then dull and damp ; very dark, high fog or smoke cloud; lights 
necessary at times, both in the morning and afternoon. 
12th.—Overcast all day. 
18 th.— Dull and dark irom smoke cloud or high fog in the morning; fine bright afternoon 
14th,—Fair, but without sunsnine. 
15th.—A little sun in morning; overcast in afternoon; some rain at night. 
Temperature variable* hut the nights still very warm.—G. J. SYMONS. 
