Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-02-23

The morning of August 18th,
1850 marks an epoch in the history
of the lower Valley, witnessing as
it did the Inauguration in this sec
ton Of that new method for the pres
ervatiOn Of our fodder crops known
as the "Ensilage' system. meth
Cd proved successful by eminent
farmers in other parts Of our own
State as well as in States north OF
us. ~l
1t may interest your readers TO
know some oithe advantages claim
ed for this system. And first may
be mentioned increased production
per acre OF food available tor winter
use. \ yield of twenty-five tons is
considered no over estimate by
those who have tested 1t, while a
yield of seventy five is reported
from Massachusetts.
The quality also is very greatly
enhanced, The process of fermen-
tation up to the acetous stage which
the stomach of the animal is ordi
Darily called upon to perform is in
this case delegated to the silo, thus
assisting the process Of digestion. A
third is in having a warm feed al
ways at hand for our focks and
herds, no matter to what degree the
mercury in our thermometer chooses
to contract. The two last advan-
tages can be appreciated by those
OF your readers who have tried the
costly experiment ofsteaming food
for their cattle, method recognized
as wise in theory, but too expen-
sive TO come info general use. D..
But what becomes of the stalks |?
They are expected to pass through
the same laboratory and thereby
have an intrinsic value given them,
instead Of allowing their bleaching
skeletons, year after year, to orna-
ment our hill-sides, as heretofore
or. if fed in the barn-yard to act as
so many ropes when the manure is
hauled out.
Such are some Of the advantages
claimed for ensilage, there are 9TH
ers which lie upon the surface and
will suggest themselves to your
readers. The chief disadvantages
Experienced only by Indifferent
farmers-is, so much manure to
handle!
The process is simple one, in
voIying no great Ontlay Of either
time or money. The pit or "silo"
may be constructed either below or
above ground, a wall of stone or
brick is used, although this has,
been dispensed with in very stiff
clay soils. Two Indispensable con-
difions to success are, an air tight
wall, and the exclusion of water,
either the result Of precipitation or
drainage.
AS the yield varies according to
the height the corn attains, a rank
growing variety, such for instance,
as the mammoth is preferred. drill
ed in rows three or three and a
half feet apart and cut just after
tasseliDg. 1t should go directly
from the hands Of the cutter to the
cutting box, as tits said whatever
cells in tie plant are robbed of their
water by desecatiOn, are filed by
the ali that archenemy OF ensilage.
So evident is this, the ensilage put
away il the early morning with the
dew upon If, or even during or az
Ter Iain, is tie letter for it.
In fl ling, the fodder is cut into
lengths OF an inch Or less, the sur
face kept level, aud tie whole mass
constantly and thoroughly packed.
AT least twenty inches of well pack
ed fodder must be filled per day,
As lhis is considered the minimum
amount consistent with safety.
When fall. The surface is covered |
win six inches OF straw, and upon
lhis, boards. or close fitting slabs,
a WIGHT of one thousand pounds to
the square yard is then applied. one
great secret Of success being contin
uous pressure,
No doubt there is many an old
building in your county in which
the trial can be made almost with
out expense.
Commencing November 10th, we
fed from our ice house, ten tons OF
m re, in time to fill it with ice soon
after Christmas. How many of-the
ice houses'of Shenandoah will be