Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-02
What Is " Ensilage 2"


beets for the sugar factories, have been in
the habit of pitting these leaves, somewhat
as New England farmers pit potatoes and
other roots. The leaves thus pitted are
found to keep pretty well, though they un-
dergo considerable fermentation and come
out in condition which, while edible and
even relshed by the cattle, has earned for the
substance the name of seattle sour-kraut."
The French, being also largely engaged
in the beet-sugar manufacture, have prac-
ticed like method, especially in the north
ern provinces. Further to the south, where
the beet fails to grow sweet enough to be
profitable for sugar making, corn fodder
has been pitted in various ways, and with
varying success. Sometimes it has been an
entire loss; at Others portion, perhaps less
than half, has been more or less fit for
fodder. In the dryer and more sandy parts
of southern France, where grass is not asure
crop, either as pasturage or for hay, fodder
corn has acquired great Importance as a
feeding crop-much more so than in Amer
lea, the native home of the corn plant.
The same and even greater trouble than we
have in drying corn fodder so that it can be
stored has been met by the French farmers.
They grow heavier kinds of corn (South
American varieties), and have cooler and
less sunny Autumn climate than America.
Consequently it has been very difficult for
them to grow and cure feed sufficient 10
carry their stock Of cattle through the Winter.
A very active intelligent and persever-
ing farmer of Sologne, France, Mons. Au-
guste Goffart, has for dozen years past
been experimenting to find out the best
method of preserving corn-fodder for Win
ter feeding. He keeps large herd of dairy
COWS, MIXED the year round, and as the hay
crop of Sologne is not unfrequently almost
an utter failure, he has found the pursuit
of dairying under such circumstances very
embarrassing. Mons. Goffart thinks he has
at last mastered the problem completely
and his statements are fully endorsed by the
local and national agricultural societies. who
declare that fodder treated by his method |
is perfectly preserved without loss, waste
or fermentation. Mons. Goffart's book, de-
scriptive of his method of preserving corn
fodder, or other green crops, by " Ensiage,"
has been translated and published in New |
York by Mr. j. b. Brown, of the wellknown
New York Plow Company" 50 Beekman
one dollar, to all who order it. 1t contains
full particulars of Mons. Goffarts system of |
ensilage, the reports of scientific men and |
of the committees of agricultural societies |
in this country.
Mons. Goffart's perfected plan of en-
silage, (Which is simply the pitting, in an
air-tight manner, of green fodder for pres
ervation, the pits being called "Silos,') |
consists, substantially, of the use of long,
narrow cellars, or sets of cellars, with brick |
walls well and smoothly plastered, and the
aoors also, with cement. These cellars are |
open at the top, and the corn-fodder, drawn
from the field as fast as it is cut up, is passed
through power feed cutter which chops it
fine, and runs it into the cellar or slo."
Here it is spread evenly, and firmly tramped
down, until the silo is full. Then heavy
planks, fitted in length exactly to the width
of the silo, are laid across, close together;
and heavy weights (stones or logs) are
placed upon the planks to compress the fod-
der, like cheese in press. Some chopped
straw may be mixed with the fodder in the
silo, but no more than five per cent, and
layer of chopped straw five or six inches
thick is spread upon the top before the
planks are put on. The fodder however,
keeps just as well, or even better, without
any straw mixed with it. No fermentation
takes place, or hardly any, and the compress
sed fodder will keep all Winter, or longer if
desired. When it is wished to make use of
it for feeding, the end of the sio next the
stable is opened, and the fodder-cheese is
cut down in sections as required. Though
while in the compressed state no fermenta-
ton takes place, yet the portion cut away,
being loosened up and separated, will, if left
to stand ten or twelve hours, begin to fer
ment; and Mons. Goffart thinks it is better,
and better relished by cows, to allow of this
slight change. He therefore cuts down the
supply for each feeding several hours in ad
vance.
All reports agree that there is no better
feeding material for COWS in milk than this
ensilaged corn-fodder. 1t unitesin itself the
qualities of hay and oats, and is the nearest
possible approach 10 fresh green feed which
has been devised At this time, when Winter
dairying is a subject of increased attention,
it may be that, even in New England, ensil-
age will be found not only practical, but
profitable. OF course it will have to be
modified 80 as to ensure full protection from
frost. Monsieur Goffart has an open shed
roof, only, over his brick silos, which rise
several feet above the surface of the soil,
and stand just back of his stables. This
would not do in the cold climate of New
England. The silos would have to be en-
tirely under ground, with frost-proof pas
sage from one end of each into the stables
Not only would roof over them be required,
but a movable floor laid from wall to wall
upon which sufficient non-conducting mate
rial might be laid to exclude frost. As the
fodder would be ensilaged early in Septem.
Der, while the silos need not be covered I'M
til November, it is probable that the weights
used for COMPRISING the fodder might be
removed before the Winter covering is put
on, thus obviating their Objectionable pres
i,,t ba IL 10 30 III.