2 6 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
will keep the fodder in perfect condition indefinitely; while a common 
affair may do alter a fashion for a while, but will never give best satis¬ 
faction. “ What is worth doing at all, is worth well doing,” should 
here, ot all places, be borne in mind. Build early. Do not wait until 
so late that your corn gets beyond the proper time for ensilaging. 
We began June 28th and were three weeks too late for our best inter¬ 
ests. Note this carefully. 
In planting, plant early from some of the large Southern varieties 
of corn, which will produce half more fodder than any of our home¬ 
grown sorts ; plant in drills, dropping about four kernels to the foot, 
planting two rows four inches apart ; then skip 28 inches. This sys¬ 
tem gives largest yields per acre of any yet tried among oldest ensil- 
agists. Cut the corn when it is in the blossom, it being at that time 
supposed to be fullest of juice. Carry to silo as fast as cut in field and 
run through machine, made for the purpose, and cut into lengths not 
to exceed half inch ; bear this point of length of cut particularly in 
mind, as many partial and entire failures have resulted from failure to 
observe.due caution here. Cut fast, filling at least two feet per day 
in the silo—the faster the better. Keep the cut fodder tramped as 
well as possible, using great care to have next to walls thoroughly 
packed or tramped. Horses may be used for tramping, or one or 
two men constantly walking over the mass, while keeping it evenly 
distributed over the bottom, will do verv well. Fill the silo three to 
five feet above top of walls (by using temporary curb of wood,) that 
the walls may be full to top after compacting has taken place. Place 
cover, made as before described, upon the cut fodder immediately 
after being filled and put on one hundred and fifty pounds stone to 
square foot. Corn cut while at right stage of growth, cut fine, silo 
filled five or more feet per day, and covered and weighted as above, 
will produce ensilage as sweet as the day it was cut, and without 
acid. 
In concluding, allow me to say that we feel certain no dairyman, 
in particular, can afford to be without a silo, and we believe the day 
not far distant when the exception among wide awake, practical dairy 
farmers will be the one who does not rejoice in the possession of a 
large enough and well filled silo. 
The Secretary read the following paper : 
WHAT IS ENSILAGE, AND HOW WILL IT BENEFIT 
THE DAIRYMAN ? 
“ Ensilage is green fodder preserved in pits called silos. This 
was first successfully accomplished by Auguste Goftart, in France, in 
1873. The green fodder is kept in a state as near the natural food of 
herbivorous animals as it is possible, for use the year round when it 
is desirable to feed it, either in the droughts of summer or the cold of 
winter. 
The principle of ensilage is essentially the same as that of canning 
fruits or vegetables, by excluding atmospheric air from these gigantic 
jars or silos. It is one of the most remarkable inventions, benefiting 
modern agriculture by supplying an enormous quantity of food tor 
