The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-28

uldtO III comparison W anu
that ensilage is one of the best and cheap
est forage crops we can raise-chemists,
editors, and others to the contrary not
outstanding. Mules, horses, cattle, and
sheep eat it kindly SO do hogs
Il have just dug another pit thirty two
feet long, twelve feet wide and nine feet
deep, and shall heap up the dirt three feet,
making II feet deep, and capacity OF
ITO cubic yards, or IS tons, and blind
ditch tiled (two-inch tile) from the bot
tom; cost $3.50. l have yet to board it
up and cover 1 find the ensilage does
not need so much trampling if heavily
weighted on top; if it sinks much, it can
be opened and reflled. 1t also takes less
room to hold the green corn, cut up il
a silo, than dry in barn, and 1 can
build silos in the ground cheaper than
barns above ground to hold the same, and
| can cut up green corn with half the
power it takes to cut dry, and, being wet,
we do not have to carry the animals out
in winter and give them cold water to
reduce their temperature and check their
fattenlng. | am entirely convinced that
ensilage is the cheapest and most conven-
ient'feed of all
Condition of Crops-Efects of the
Drought.
Later intelligence, and the rains put
rather more cheerful aspect upon our
agricultural prospects The rains will
benefit some late corn, late tobacco, and
bring out the pastures and common
grasses. have received intelligence for
81 counties for September. From these
returns we have the average of the corn
crop for Virginia at $3.50 (taking 100 as
a good CROP. We think that more corn
will be made than is generally thought
In the vicinity of Richmond, though the
drought has been excessive, we have been
surprised to find so many good ears on
the stalks. Of course through the coun-
try, where the lands are poor, there are
fields of corn which will make very little,
some not more than one barrel to the
acre, and some not that. But where the
land is tolerably good, and was planted
early, and worked well, there will be
found medium crops of corn. Then Tide
water Virginia has not suffered as other
portions, for instance: Matthews reports
80, Northampton 100 one correspondent
says ll0], Middlesex 100, Warwick 100,
New Kent 90, Accomac rs. The United
States Agricultural Department puts
down corn for August in the whole coun-
try as II. So the outlook is not so des-
perate at least. We think there will be
more corn In Virginia than was thought.
We are sorry to see some Of the counties
report very low averages. For instance:
Patrick 33 and Cul pepper 25.
The greatest scarcity will be in long
forage. There is scarcely any hay or
oats In the State, and already farmers are
selling off cattle because they apprehend
they cannot feed them. Let farmers seed
as much rye as they can up to last of
September (tor soiling and grazing), and
then winter oats in Eastern Virginia
until the 10th of October. Let them
save all the native grass they can, all
the fodder, particularly top fodder, now,
as the other is much fred-house their
straw where they can, save their corn
stalks, and even make hay out of rag or
hog weed that comes up after wheat.
An old farmer told US the other day that
his COWS eat it very we'll in winter, and
that it is better than the coarse grasses
cut from wet lands.
Wheat
Fallow aud prepare for wheat, but do
not attempt to put in more than can be
well done, and do not put poor land in
that will not bring 10 or II
Il