Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-06-25
FARM AND PRESIDE.

FARM AND PRESIDE.
| ENsILAGE.-The subject is attracting
| great attention, and as far as we can see,
| is destined to be a discovery of great value
| to the farmer, and may almost revolution
ize agriculture. particularly in sections
not adapted to grass growing. To those
of our readers who may not have seen a
description of ensilage, we state that it is
the preservation of green forage in silos,
| or pits. Corn fodder has been principally
used for the purpose. Various depths
have been adopted for the pits, varying
from to Is feet. Where water is easily
reached, apart of the receptacle is put
above ground, being bridged up. It, is
best to dig the pits under shelter. but they
are frequently located in the open air. The
| SYSTEM first practieed by M. Goffart, of
France. After many years of experiments
he seems to have perfected it, and has de-
scribed 1t in little work (Which has been
translated) entitled .f'Thess Ensilage of
Maize" We quote from letter recently
addressed to "The Tuckahoe Farmers
Club of Henrico, by DR.. Banister of
Amelia. on this subject: Happily there
has recently been introduced to us from
Europe, a mode of providing ter food
for stock of all kinds which is compare
lively inexpensive, and capable of supply
ing in abundant quantity forage of a
high order Of excellence. It is accessible
to any farmer who can command the SER
vice of feed cutter, driven by horse or
other power. Such is the ensilage of green
vegetation, but especially Of corn, upon
which the Club applies to me for informa-
tion." The Doctor farther on says:
II will here detail the process by
which my intelligent Scotch nelghbor, Mr..
Thomas Hunter, in avoiding a single blum
der OF mine, attained perfect success
His silo. pit, was dug in heavy clay soil,
under part of his wagon shed. Its di-
mansions were 10 feet in depth, the same
In width and 20 feet in length. The shed
was open on the west, and on this side
from the bottom of the pit to it's top planks
were nailed to studs introduced at inter-
walls, so as to cover that side. The other
three sides and bottom were left as they
were dug; without facing Of any kind. The
result proved that in this instance none
was required. But the winter was excep-
tionally dry. M. Gofart recommends brick
walls for the purpose II bricks thick, CO.
mented, and the bottom coated with con-
crete" M. Gofart's soil is very wet one,
water being struck at 81 feet; he makes
the pit 81 feet below the surface, and digs
a ditch all around and below the bottom of
the pit, and raises the rest of the recepta-
Gle above the ground. Boards will gener-
ally answer the purpose, and if dug under
shelter in clay land, no doubt all protec-
ton to the sides may be dispensed with
Ii dug in the open air, an artificial roof of
shingles, or plank, must be used, for if the
forage gets wet it is ruined. DR.. Banister
further says: s'The silo (Mr. Hunter's),
was filled in the early days of October
Cut down with the ordinary corn knife.
the corn was Immediately hauled to the ST.
10, passed at once through a horsepower
feed-cutter and shoveled as fast as cut up
into it, the mass all the while being well
trampled. The work was continued from
day to day until the silo was filled. About
two inches Of straw was put over the mass,
and upon this boards were placed across
the pit at right angles to its long diameter.
Upon these boards weights were put. p
Bricks, stone, bags filed with sand, &c.,
are used, and the pressure should be 1000
pounds to the square yard. Continuous
pressure is the secret of success. This ex-
cludes all air, there is no fermentation,
and the forage is perfectly preserved. 4
coeo to the acre, it is claimed. can be sup
ported by ensilage, and there seems no rea-
sonable limit to the production of beef,
milk, butter and cheese from our lands, il
we manure and fertilize sufficiently to pro-
duce good corn fodder. By the great in
crease of stock possible by this system, we
shall have great increase of manure.
The Northern farmers are eagerly adopt
ing the system, and by high cultivation
claim that they are raising 40 and so tons
per acre of corn fodder. M. Goffart says
he raised 40 tons per acre, on land originally
very poor, by putting phosphate to his sta
BILE manure, and we presume potash, as he
remarks that is an important element for
the corn crop. The Northern farmers are
also ensilaging rye in the spring for sum-
mer soiling, and are keeping great num-
bers of cattle upon small surfaces.
We think this system is destined to work
a great deal of good for our State, and
partic ularly for tidewater and middle Vir-
ginia. If it is what is claimed for it, and
what it seems to. be, these two sections
can become great stock regions, with the
mild winters and nearness to markets.
And with more stock we shall have more
manure, and with more manure, more corn
fodder; and with more corn fodder, we
shall have more stock, and so on until we
shall become prosperous and rich people.
We shall give further information about
the construction of pits in our next issue.
and in the meantime we beg our farmers
to go to work and sow corn fodder, each
one according to his opportunity and
means. There will be short crop of hay,
and forage will be scarce. There is ample
time for the construction of the silos.
Mr.. Hunter, above mentioned, has faith
enough in the system to raise his crop of
corn fodder from two acres last year, to
twenty eight this year. Southern Planter.
FINE Soup WITHOUT MEAT.-Boil
can of tomatoes until thoroughly cooked.
then press through seive. To one quart
of the pulp add teaspoonful of soda
Put into saucepan butter the size of a
pigeons egg; when it bubbles sprinkle and