Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-08-06
value ofEnstIare.

Why should the system of ensilage be still
considered an experiment? The testimony
| is all in its favor, and there is none against
it. The conditions pre- now well known to be
simply as follows Stalks to be removed from
the field before any of the cells lose their
| juice-that is, before any fading or dessica-
ton has taken place. The reason of this is
that air enters the cell as soon as the juice
has departed and acetic acid is formed even
while the stalk still stands. The silo must
be impermeable to air and water, and not IL
able to become heated in the following sum-
mer. The stalks must be cut fine in order
that the air may be expelled by the pressure
and for convenience in removing from the silo
The silo should be filed as fast as 20 inches
per day at least. A pressure of 80 pounds
per square foot Of top surface at least must
be applied. Mr.. Morris of Maryland is in-
creasing his sios (Which are trenches in well
drained soiD after an experience of four
years. Mr.. Mills of New Jersey, who first
experimental with whole stalks with success,
now cuts it fine, and thinks no more of it as
an experiment" Mr. Bailey of Massachu-
sets has been praising the system with both
hands. Mr.. Potter of New York has pre-
served il with small pressure and in sour con-
dition for several years He says he prefers
to have it sour All these gentlemen say
they have made money by it. NJ. Goffart OF
France, as long ago as June 1876, received
the decoration of the Legion of Honor for
'the preservation of maize as green fodder
by ensilage, which is to-day q solved ques-
ton thanks to his persevering and success
full experiments.
He wrote me that the cost of the maize he
was then feeding Dan LIST, 1880 was 10
cents per 225 pounds, and his crop was Sc
tons per acre. q can give you every item of
Il H. laufraI Iol.o ,,F,
nure, seed, &c.) He says:
1.-The longer experience have the more
am convinced that this method of feeding
cattle is destined to render the greatest ser
vice to the agricultural interest. From Oc-
tober, 1873, to October, 1879, fed the one
hundred animals in my stable exclusively up
on ensilaged maize during winter, and con-
currently with fresh maize during the sea-
son when l had it. The animals have always
enjoyed the most excellent health and can
testify that they had more appetite for en-
siaged maize than for fresh food, whatever
kind it might be. The cows fed with fresh
maize give milk of excellent quality, and the
butter is of exquisite taste; fed upon ensil-
aged maize, the milk is still very good, and
its quantity undiminished, but the butter,
while being still of excellent quality, is not
quite so fine. But it should be remembered
that whatever is the food of the cows in
winter, butter is never quite so good as that
which is made during the fine weather"
In regard to the cost of this fodder, he
says
Taking six per cent. of the weight of the
animal for its daily ration, arrive at an ex-
pense of $50 cents per day to feed an animal
of 400 pounds. do not know any kind Of
food that costs so little as my ensilaged maize,
and it was bad year for raising it owing to
tba aud lahpr u-oc pptp,,allx-
on account of the high price of wine"
Some objection has been made to ensiage
by as high authority as Mr. Arnold, on &C
count of the watery quality of the food, in
our cold winters, and some doubt of its val
ue has been expressed by Mr.. Thompson of
Connecticut, but l believe it was a happy
event for the world when the introduction of
maize into France proved so valuable an ad-
dition to their green food that NJ. GofTart
was impelled to continue his experiments in
to success.-J. b. BrOtrn IN Country Gen
tIenldn.