Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-21
ENSILAGE.

ENSILAGE.
J. II. Brown. Esq, of New York, was
introduced, and spoke on the subject OF
Ensilage' or the French method of pre-
serving fodder in silus or pits. There
had been, be spid, Il method discovered by
which vegetables could be preserved. II
recognized that grass loses part of its nu-
tritive qualities by being dried and con
verted into hay. Ensilage means to pack
in pit or box. called "A sio. In 1880, NJ
Goffart first used this means Of preserving
fodder. This process has been applied to
cabbage, turnips, etc. 1t has become sue
cessful in France, and yet it is still dis
cussed as doubtful in America.
The three great essentials are excellence
IF air, excellence of water. and as little
change Of temperature as possible. Fodder
for this purpose should be planted in rows.
| This fodder can best be cut with Il reaper.
Francis Morris, OF Maryland makes his
silos. II feet in width at the top, - feet
wide at the bottom and 81 feet deep; the
top when full being covered with straw,
then with roofing. The >ilo is fl led above
the top of the ground, Mr.. Morris has
been perfectly successful. The fodder
should be cut fine enough to pack together
well; one-half inch or less is the best
| length. \ masonry silo is the best to
begin with. This can be built of stone OF
of brick Angles should be avoided. The
walls should be vertical, and in this
country no covering of straw should be
used. When the silo is first opened the
ensilage will appear pale, but the action
of the air will make it green. l. is essen
tal that the cnsilage should have Il proper
pressure upon it. Salt is not essential
unless the fodder has been fro,t-bjtten.
The fact that the fodder i, ready Tor Use,
makes subsequent care of animals less
difficult. The fod Ier may he put in the
silo when green and wet. No other veg
etable is so useful us MAZE fer cnsiIage
Mr., Morris said that he had found euSllage
from maize the best fodder for mica cows
The yield Of manure by feeding ens!nge is
very great. Ensilage should be taken
/ from the sio fifteen hours before it is fed
Mr.. Brown read report OF a test made in
the eastern states rs to the cost of keeping
thirty cows and one hundred sheep, show
ing the cost of ensilage, when used eXclu-
sively. was 3 y per day while that oi
other fodder vas Sill per day,
Mr.. Arnold objected to cnsilagc as il
winter it was not well to feed cattle green
food; it took too much food for keeping
up the heat where so much cold water was
taken in in the feed. lie objected 10 feeding
roo,s in winter for the same reason. Prof
Stewart thought the similarity Ola COW to
furnace did not extend to the point of bOtl
being most economically fed ON seasoDe,
fuel. Ii was better in his opinion THAI
COW take the wafer at about SO degrees II
it would come from a silo, than TO have
her eat an amount Of dry hay and drink
large amount of cold water to q1ench hel
thirst. Prof. Arnold again objected It
, ensilage on account of alcoholic fermcnta
ton. Mr. Brown said that even that di,
not take place in properly preserved ensiI
: age.
I. y. Curtis, Esq, secretary of the asso
citation. read a paper on Facts and Fancie
of the Dairy Business, in which lie CAV
the statistics of the production, prices
goods on hand, etc. lie strongly condemn
2 ed the practice Of producing goods 10
export as ruinous to labor in boh coun
tries. The time is not far distant when
must be decided whether it will pay /
produce supplies for trans portation t
countries, where the same article can b
produced. Ifso, We pay less for labor ant
this means less profit to the producer
a He believed it was ruin to Foreigners IN
e TO us to put our labor in compettio
n with theirs Our surplus energies shoul
E be devoted to the production OF article
needed ut home.
WEDNESDAY MORNING S SESSION