1 8 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
As the star of empire now lies in the west, it comes to us that the 
largest system of silos yet built in the United States can be found in 
the young state oi Nebraska. They were built in 1880 at West Point, 
Cummings Co., and have a united capacity of 2,000 tons. There are 
four of them, each 60 ft. long, 16 ft. wide, and 20 ft. deep. Dr. Eager, 
their owner, thinks ensilage is cheaper than prairie hay at no greater 
cost than the cutting and stacking. 
So far as I am informed, the Oatmans, of Dundee, have the honor 
of building the first silo in the great state of Illinois. To them be the 
credit of leading in a system that will show, according to my predic¬ 
tion, hundreds of silos in this commonwealth in the next five years. 
What they think of it will be presented to you by one of the firm who 
is to follow me in this discussion. 
The ensilage system of preserving food green for winter feeding, 
is no longer a matter of doubt. It has passed the line of experiment. 
It is well established among our foremost agriculturists. It only re¬ 
mains to satisfy dairymen and stock raisers, and stock feeders, that it 
is profitable, that there is money in its adoption. This will soon be 
done. A few practical illustrations of it in Illinois, will set the system 
to going all over the state. Some say that it is premature for the 
west, that we don’t need it in a country where feed can be produced 
so cheaply. To be sure all of the states do not yet feel the pressure of 
worn out lands as they of the east, but there is coming a time when 
all will be forced to adopt it in self defence, 
Before closing I wish to speak of ensilage as a substitute for soil¬ 
ing. I am satisfied that the pernicious effects of soiling or feeding un¬ 
ripe grasses, and other plants, is not well understood. The meat of 
animals which are fed on it is injurious to health, and their milk the 
frequent cause of dysentery and death amongst children. The butter 
and cheese produced from animals fed upon unripe grasses are neces¬ 
sarily bitter and unwholesome. Disease is the immediate effect of it 
upon the animal. In the winter succedin^ its use, the farmer finds 
upon his hands ten or a dozen cows sick with hollow horn, or some 
other disorder that he does not know how to account for. Ensilage 
furnishes ripe wholesome feed and is the cheapest system of soiling. It 
is much cheaper to harvest the crop all at one time and feed it out 
from the silo, than to cut and haul day by day from the field. 
It has occured to me that it will be practicable during the introduc¬ 
tory period of the system for large farmers to make it a business to 
sell ensilage to their less favored neighbors, who could get their feed 
from day to day as needed, from those having it to sell The capital 
required to build the silos, and provide a fodder cutter, and power to 
run it, might be beyond the means of some who would want to use it. 
Such persons might be provided with their ensilage by the large silo 
men at a small price, and still at a profit. 
It can be sold at a tenth of a cent a lb. and still double the cost of 
production. Suppose 60 pounds be a cow’s ration for a day, the cost 
of provender for the cow would be 6 cents a day* In towns and cities 
there are many families that keep a single cow or two. The time will 
come when the man who fills his silos near the city, and peddles ensil- 
