Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-06
GREEN FODDER ALL THE YEAR.
Practical experience with the New
Ensilage system, and valua-
bic hints to Farmers.

The following paper, by o. B. Potter.
was read before the Farmers Club OF
the American Institute at a recent meet
ing: Born and bred upon the farm, l
now find, like others. after many years
OF professional and business labor, oc-
cupation for a portion of my time, with
recreation and health, in agriculture. l
am glad to avail myself OF the courtesy
OF the Farmers club to state my expert
ence in ensilage, or preserving food for
cattle in green state. So deeply convin-
ced am from experience, OF the impor
tance OF this subject to American farmers
that shall make no apology for urging it
upon their Immediate attention through
this club. have practlced this system
for three years, have applied it to com
mon fodder corn, red clover, pearl mil
let. West India millet or Guinea corn,
green rye, green oats and mixed grasses
in which clover predominated, with en-
tire success in every case. The last
year 1 preserved about one hundred
tons. / have never lost any fodder
whatever thus preserved, but during
the whole experiment it has been per-
fectly preserved and better than when
fed fresh and green from the field As
the first fermentation Is passed in the
process the food thus preserved ha. no
| tendency either to scour or bloat the
animals fed. 1t is eaten up eagerly and
clean, leaf and stalk, without any loss
whatever, and stock thus ted exhIb IS the
highest condition of health and thrift.
For mllch csws, to which have main
have ever tried. 1t increases the quap
| f,fx nj " I,io
and the quality is better than that pro-
duced from the same fodder when led
fresh and green from the field This is
owing, l think to the fact that it does
not scour OF bloat the animals, while it
retains its natural Juices and nutritious
qualities In the most dIgestib.e form
The process 10 not unlike that by which
saurkraut is made, and so much is food
thus preserved improved, especially tor
milch cows. that think no one who un
derstands the process and has tacilitie,
for practicing it wou'd, alter trial, con
tinue the present method of soiling OIL
feeding fodder crops fresh cut from the
field. The process is exceedingly sim
pie and easily prasticed. The condi
tions are these:
First-The preserving pits or recepta
cles must be wholly air tight, SO tina
when sealed the air cannot come in con
tact with the food to be preserved.
Sscond-Ths pits must be OF such
form and dimensions US will best faci itat,
the settling and compacting of the foot
into solid mass, and when opened tol
feeding will expose as small a part o
the surface to the atmosphere as prac
ticablc.
1hlrd-The fodder must be cut greer
when in the best condition or in b DOM
passed Immediately through the cutting
machine to reduce it to uniform shor
: lengths of not more than ono inch
and at once be deposited and trod firm
ly into the pit. sufficient salt being uset
to render it palatable, but no more. A
fermentation, which will commence
at once. proceeds and the mas
settles, the cutting and treading il
OF fresh fodder must be continued from
, day to day, after an interval OF abou
thirty six hours, until the pit is file,
and settling has nearly ceased.
! Fourth-The pit, as soon as complete
ly filled and settling has ceased, mus
be securely sealed to exclude the nj
, wholly and arrest fermentation, an,
must be kept SO sealed until opened 10
, use. AT the risk OF prolixity | vii
state with more detail my own practice
THE PRESERVING PITS.
l make my pits OF hard brick. wit
, l2 inch perpendicular walls, well laid il
: cement with smooth joints If tn
ground is sandy or gravelly, the out
: side OF the walls next the earth is cover
cd with coat OF cement, or the wall
3 are filled in behind with clay. or caye
r earth. to prevent the passage OF the al
through them. The bottoms are als
: lald with brick upon the flat cement
S The pits are made from to 10 fee
: wide. from l6 to 20 feet long, and .bou
l 10 feet deep. The deeper the pits III
8 moro they will contain in proportion t.
: measurement owing to greater denslt,