The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-01
Ensilage Of Maize.

of agricultural terms. We find some ex-
planatory remarks on the system pub
lished in the Farmer and Planter, Rich
mond, Va. NJ. Auguste Gifert, dis
tirguished agriculturist of France, made
tha discovers and hss written az book
explaining the merits of his discovery,
which has bean translated Into Edglish.
His own convictions Of its success is con-
frmed by many agricultural societies in
France, as well as by experiments tried
in our own country. 1t is considered
one of the most valuable agricultural
discoveries of the age, having for its OBJ.
ject the preservation of forage plants
through all seasons of the year, so as to
retain all their original nutritive value,
which, by the usual sun-curing, is in
great measure evaporated and lost. AS
a recognition of ''the immense benefit
which has accrued to France" the Min
lister ofAgricultare conferred the dsc9EEaa;1;
ton Of The Legion of Honor UPON NJ.
Gifert. 1T IS notANery probable, how
ever, that this new system will be adop-
ted to any gieat extent by our Southern
farmers, while they depend solely on
6roon,sedge for summer pasturage, and on
shacks and wheat straw for winter forage.
But this presents no reason why they
should not understand, study and apply
any system that would enable them to
care for their stock more humanely du-
ring the winter months. The author de-
fines the word he has chosen, to convey
correct idea of his system to others, as
follows: .-,
aEns;zage- act of COMPRISING into
pits, trenches or Compartments, called
ailos; also the green crops so preserved"
aSilo-excavation, pit or trench hol-
lowed in the ground, or any compart-
ment used for storing green fodder in an
air-tight manner"
Any green crop may be preserved in
this method, but corn seems 70 De pre-
ferred by the author, for the reason that
so large yield can be obtained per acre.
His mode of procedure is this: With
the aid of some power (either horse or
steam) he cuts his green corn-stalks,
whenever they have tasseled, in half-iuch
lengths, snd ndE11tmedi dtsy packs thenA'n o.
sil6 Or trench prepared for the purpose
as quickly. and ccmpactly as possible.
The whole mass is then covered with
closely fitting boards, weighted down
with stones or logs so that the covering,
can descend with the setting mass. Con-
tinuous pressure is the secret Of success.
This expels from the ensilage enough of
the air contained in it to prevent fermen-
tation and consequent decay.
When the ensilage is taken from the
silo otasbes fed, exposure to the air, in g.
observation-disclosures alceh licferH HeHtataou'
tosesfn, ana then it IS IN rs best state
for cattle, and they eat it with great
relish. It is then in pulpy mass, and
the whole of it is consumed. Its nutri-
tive qualities appear to be increased by
The aathorsays: :-ssUpon my reserve
of thirty-fve hectares Ia hectare is about
two and a half acres have kept, du-
ring the winter of 1876, forty-three
horned cattle, and shall keep during
the winter of 1877 seventy, with the as
surance of going much beyond this at the
end of 1878" IL ii i
We may we'll believe this statement to
be within bounds, when we reflect that
fifty tons 6rnsfodders per acre is,not'
an unusual yield for land in good condi-
ton. In regard to its value eor fattening,
purposes, I quote agaihlaJu6 ~ ?
Otis only by experience that we solve
the question of the alimentary value of
maize. I can assert, however, that at
my home at Burton, in the way in which
] prepare it, maize with one-tenth of its
weight of oas straw, maintains my ami
mails in perfect condition. 1t would be,
Iconfess, / going, too far to say, that maize
alone has the faculty of making very fat.
animals for fairs, or for high quality
butcber-stalls. Cows which are not be-
ing MIXED, quickly take condition, en-
tirely satisfactory to our.country butch
ers. who are, as class, less exacting than
those OF the city. But for perfect fatten-
ing, is is necessary to add other, elements
to the regular ration. I have tried the
experiment. Of fattening fine animals
with my preserved maize, and in addi-
ton in the commencement, of -four kila-
grsmmes aof oil cake Ia kilogranme is
about two and q half pounds.) They be-
come tat a0ith surprising rapidity.n i
This matter has been the subject of
earnest investigation and experiment by
many of the learned societies of France
devoted to agriculture, and is, BY Them,
universally commended. o.r5nr:1 f,f7I,
But we are not entirelyh dependent
upon the French people for information
in regard to this NATTER Mr. Francis
Morris, of Maryland, for more than two
years past, has experimental with this
process, and adds his testimony to its
great value: His 'Experiencein Grow
nig Corn fodder, preserving it IN Silos OF
trenches ana4 y Feeding it to Stock, ~ is
contained in this same volume, . -.
In it he says, "In very long expert
ence in raising stock; I have found corn
fodder, preserved. as above stated, the best
food for milking. cotrs that Z hare ever used.
1t is equal, if not superior, to June grass,
and its cultivation is SO easy, its preser-
.SationN SO inexpensive, that to-day no one
can estimate its advantage to the agri-
culturist." - u :
What induced this gentleman to try
the experiment, and with what success,
will not be uninteresting. "In the early
simmer of 1876 received from France
newspaper containing an account of
plan they had adopted of raising maize
or Indian corn, cutting the same when in
tassel and buryiDg it in trenches, cover
ing it with earth, and feeding it out to
their stock the following winter and
spring. This statement induced me to
make the experiment. / sowed on the
1st of August, 1876, about five acres in
drills, three feet apart, and about
bushel of corn to the acre. This was
,rorkad trrino with the cIlltivatnr erd