Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-05-14

The preservation of green fodder by bury
ing in pits or Wlos-a kind Of huge canning
process-if it can be done as successfully as
claimed by Mr.. Bailey Of the Winning Farm.
near Bilierica, Mass, promises to be discoy-
cry Of great utility. II has been practiced TO
some extent il France, and the word tHHiagt
is the French term for this process. The
first thorough trial of this system il America.
it is claimed. has been made 1T the Winning
Farm during the past season. 1t will be seen
by the extract quoted below, that Mr.. Bailey
estimates that it takes about five or six tons
of corn fodder thus preserved to winter a
COW. The quantity of hay that COW con-
sues in six months is commonly estimated
"a, two tons. 1t should be borne in mind,
however. that the principal part Of the weight
of green fodder corn is water. Mr.. Bailey
expects to grow - tons of corn fodder per
acre the coming season. If that amount can
be grown, then an acre will winter about II
cows but if any one contemplates trying
the new process, We should say that less than
half that quantity per acre would be safer
estimate A correspondent of the New Eng
land Farmer recently visited Winning Farm
anu gives sOllt VI lib OpllllOlS anu pres
sions in regard to the new process as fol
lows:
DR.. Bailey believes ensilage to be a richer
and more productive food than stock get il a
good pasture in June Then came the test,
will stock eat it willingly and freely :" Eat
it," says the doctor, why, they will eat it
until they are blind - and sure enough, your
correspondent saw COWS and sheep leave good
wheat bran and oats mixed, run, crowd, and
push, to get bite of ensage, and when it
was devoured, they would stare their feeder
in the face for more, instead of accepting the
grain offered them. The same was proved
with horses, which have d small allowance
two or three times each week Fodder is
better says DR. Bailey, when properly fed
after ensilage, than it IS when fed from the
field; the alcoholic fvrmt ntatiUu, which takes
place by allowing the rusilagr to lie two
hours on the barn floor before feeding il,
proves il. from the fact that the sugar is thus
reduced to d stage that VIII admit Of the ami
mails assmilatiug every particle which is
impossible when otherwise fed
One silo was filled only to two-thirds Of its
capacity from this 100 head Of sheep and / ,
h,ad Of cattle with a little TO the five horses
have been fed since December I'd 1879, and
about Ia tons Yet remain. The doctor states
that hc expects to grow at least - tons OF
maize TO the acre, the coming season j
acres viii fill the two silos and feed ii cows
for siA months DIR. Bailey will ensilnge :
acres Of rye about the LIST of June. which
viii feed = large stock until the middle of
August, when portion of the field will pro
duue sufficient amount of sowed corn to fill
both Slus. Winning Farm comprises only
40 acres Of arabic land. The conclusions of
your corresponds ut are thai = silo of LOG
ions capacity can be buili anywhere in New
England for 500 to Sl>I, and that this 100
ions via feed ~ COWS the year around 10y FILL
ing twice, as suggested 10y DR. Bailey; and 10
PIT IL very low, Two acres will produce the
SInount
A Boston journal correspondent, who Wis
itod Mr.. Bailey's place hast week describes
his ,silo' ns having been constructed OF
rough stone, smoothly cemented inside, aud
made ain and wafer tight It's capacity was
soo tons The corn stalks were cut into bits
half al inch in length and packed closely il
the Silo to a depth of about ten feet Upon
this mass was placed uncut rye straw to the
depth Of six inches over this were boards,
and upon them was thick layer of boulders.
Under this weight the mass became very
compact, aud when the silo was opened Dec
., 1879, the ensilage was found 10 be ready
for use Al through the winter Mr.. Bailey,
chopped corn stalks have been fresh and
sweet, and he now has about five tons OF
them, from which there is not the slightest
offensive smell in fact, their odor is rathel
pleasant than otherwise, and their taste mus
be appetiziug, if the avidity with which they
are eaten by his stock may be taken as an in
dioation of its character. 1t is claimed tina
ensilage will maintain its quality for any
length of time, and be always ready for use