The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-09
EnsilaGe.

The introduction into the United States
of the practice of packing away green corn
todder and other forage fplants for use 10
w;nter nv Mr.. Francis Morris, of Howard
county Md. and DR.. John NJ. Bailey, OF
B;llerica, Mass. will, if brought lnto general
use lead TO important results IN farming
The origin of the system-or perhaps, more
properly. the revival OF its due 10 VI;
Aueuste Goffart, a distinguished memSer OF
the Central Agricultural Society OF France
and Chevalier Of the Legion OF Honor. Ut.
Bailey, in his book on ensilage, printsa let
ter from D.. ID. Fiquet, OF Houston, lex,
who says that a silo IS neither European ~.
Eastern in discovery and origin, but that
il is and has been a custom prevalent for
wears in Mexico, where farmers preserve
their grain, both green and matured, IN
underground cisterns. 1t saved the ripe
product from the weevil, whilst the green
kent well. and was the better for being a
little fermented: and it is presumed that
the French got the idea in their recent &C.
cupation Of Mexico, and introduced 1t lEto
France on their return. It's also saiu tpat
some of the earliest Latin writer's speak OF
silos in the ground as being IN use ny the
Romans.
Mr. Morris does not appear to practise
the system to the finished extent, as 1T were,
of DR.. Bailey, although he is as well salts
fed with the results and is as sangulne In
his predictions of the vast benefit to Amer
lean agriculture if the custom becomes gen
eral. Mr.. Morris seems only to have pltted
or trenched his cut fodder, much after the
fashion, long in use, of pitting turnlps, po
tatoes cabbages. etc. All farmers know
the latter can be successfully preserved II
properly done, and yet two out OF every
three farmers fail because they DO II SLOW
enly and carelessly. Mr.. }. b. brown OF
New York city, we think President or
Manager of the Ames Plough Company, was
also one o. the early advocates OF the IN
PRODUCTION of silos, and in 1876, or perhaps
1877. the american Agriculfnr1st gave a de-
allied account of Nj. Goffart's experiments
in France.
II had been the intention to try 1t at
Gwynedd this year, but, as explained last
week, it has been put OF until next year,
when it is proposed to ensilage twenty-five
To thirty acres of corn fodder. The doctor
piyes a full description Of the construction
of the silos and the manner OF filling ana
use of the fodder afterward. The one es-
sential is to keep the air from the stun.
This ACCOMPLISHED, fermentation, which
means decay, cannot take place. A cemen-
ted stone, brick, or concrete building, hall
under ground and half above it, built so as
to be filled conveniently and emptled han
div. is necessary. The inside walls should
be plastered with cement, and the moor also
made with the same. In the book before
US stone drainage appears above the cement
We should think proper drainage an lmpor
tant factor in the success OF the keeping.
The building and the fodder being ready,
the latter is delivered to the building and
cut in half inch lengths by a fodder cutter.
It is then spread evenly over the floor OF the
l,,l1:,o OF ohput the rate OF two leot In
depth in a day. This the doctor says is fast
enough. as the settling will lessen the
shrinkaee afterward. The same practice is
continued day by day until tho
silo is filled. When filled, about a
foot of uncut rye straw : added,
upon the top of the straw planks are laid,
and upon the top of the planks heavy stone
or other weights are put. During the hlllne
the whole mass is constantly packed 10y meI
tramping upon it in order to exclude al
air. The cost Of ensilaying a crop of BOO
to 400 tons is estimated not to exceed AZ
cents per ton. When opened there is no
unpleasant taste, except the acldlty, ano
no unpleasant smell. Hogs eat it g~reedily
Sheep seem fond of it. Some Of the COW:
do net eat we'll of it at first, but soon learr
to like it.
The acidity is ascribed to the fodder be
ing too ripe when cut. The alcoholic odol
does not show until an exposure to the at
mssphere and the fodder must be exposed
twelve to twenty-four hours before feeding
to develop, as we understand, the fermen
tation, which is the cause of the alcoholic
odor. The doctor is enthusiastic in IN
workings, and says milk can be produced
for one cent per quart, butter for ten cent
per pound, beef four cents, and mutton TO
nothing if wool will bring thirty cents pc
pound.
Next year Gwynedd shall have a silo |
thoroughly agrees with our present man
agement and experience. 1t is step on
ward in soiing it saves all the manure; |
gives the cost of fences to buy more cattle
1t will improve the farms and increase thei
production, and the Record will do what
can to demonstrate the prac'icabilify Q
the system in this vicinity and helpit gen
eral introduction, among the farmers 6
Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and De
aware.