The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-26
gbf Farm.
RuRYING CORN STALKS.
How to Have Green Food for STOCK
b Whole Year Round.

lTOIl the CulIlhdtIth dIi ~
maize-foraee. invited 10 his celebrated farm
at Burtin. on Oct. -. many agriculturistS
who are interested in this important ques
ton. A hundred accepted his invitation,
and they received at Burtin the most gener-
Gus hospitality. Among those present we
should mention the Prince CatacuZene, a
large agriculturist of Southern Russia and
Russian Commissioner to the Exposition;
VI. Fernandez de Media. Commissioner from
Spain NJ. Rob Runeberg, Commissioners
from Finland NJ. Dentch. large agricultu-
rist in Hungary NJ. Boitel, 1nspector-Gen>
eral of Agriculture OF France VI. }. A.
Barral, Secretary of National Society OF
Agriculture Of France; and the officers of
eight other agricultural societies of France.
The operation of gathering and ensiiaging
the maize had been under way for several
lays. One of the silOs was already full,
the second was being filled The gigantic
maize is brought from the field in wagons,
which stop Just behind the feed-cutter.
The stalks are fed to the machine, which is
run by a m-engine. They are cut into
disks of (abOut 40 inch and carried by
an elevator above the wall of the sllO, and
fall within it. A man spreads the laver, a
woman tramples around the sllO. When 1T
is full it will be covered with plank, which
will be loaded with large stones fabout 900
IDSi J DtI SGud1C HICtiC NdbouI ivy SIbdlG
feet. It will be perfectly preserved. with
out fermentation, until the time when it is
needed for use. In the month of May We
took from the last silo at Burtin the last
layer of maize. 1t had the same tempera-
ture that it had at the time of ensilage. and
it presented not a trace of any deterioration.
There is no doubt that the result will be the
same this wear. All the agriculturists who
have followed exactly the directions of NJ.
Goffart have obtained the same result, and
their numerous testimonials bear witness to
it. There are three silos for maize, and one
for oats, cut green, which was filled in the
Spring. and which has been fed out to the
working animals.
NJ. Goffart has to-day 6S horned cattle in
his stables, six horses. and one mule With
his resources of maize fodder, he can not
only support for seven months 80 horned
cattle, but also put them in condition for
the butcher, upon 81 hectares about 20
acres). After having visited the fields of
maize, the numerous guests departed, de-
lighted with what they had seen.
THE CULTIVATION AND PRESERVATION OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FRoM MONSIEUR
A. GoFFART, APRIL %, 1873.
NV last silo, more than 800 cubic metres
in capacity, will be emptied by May 10th.
You will remember how my frosted maize
last September had to be cut as quickly as
possible. when it had only attained two
thirds of its growth. The frost had com
pletely stopped its growth, aud the black
ened stalks would have fallen to the ground
at the first rain. | cut it, as | always do,
one centimetre (about 40 inch long, and l
ensilaged it without any addition of salt or
straw or cut hay. The preservation has
been, and is still, perfect ; not a kilogramme
of it has been wasted. Having been cut
when so very young, it has produced a very
tender fodder, the nutritivep power Of which
was evidently superior to that of my previ-
Gus ems laSe. The question arises, whether
this increase of nutritive value compensates
for the loss of weight in a crop cut prema-
turely. | do not think it does. 1t would
need to be 80 per cent. at least superior to
that of maize cut when the ear is in the
milky state. for the loss of weight is at least
In that proportion.
Comparative experiments and analyses of
our skillful chemists will soon enlighten us
on this important subject.
Another very remarkable effect upon
ensilage by frosted vegetation is this while
maize ensilaoed in ordinary condition takes
or the alcoholic fermentation in twelve to
fifteen hours after contact with the air, the
frosted maize required two, and sometimes
three days. The farmer. therefore,, need
not be alarmed at these premature frosts,
but should be ready to ensi'age his crop
Immediately upon their appearance. find
that the tall Mexican corn becomes exceed
ingly hard, and quickly dulls the knives of
the cutting machine. l shall not use that
kind again.
FEB. 1, 1S19.-I now give you the facts
which | have gained from the experience of
Tho YNocf Wow ~ mn f,r,, ~ Dr G-l
thai l was mistaken when l advised that the
silo should be filled as quickly as possible.
The shrinkage or subsistence which takes
place in the first few days of the compress.
sion, is SO considerable that the upper half
of our silos are soon empty, and therefore
we lose one-half of the capacity, and the
expense of establishingthem is just doubled.
l now advise that the silos should not be
filled too quickly. In recharging a silo that
has been commenced with a layer of fresh
maize Of fifty centimetres GO inches) each
dav Won will Ioon sufficiently shoo1 of Tho