Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-18
FARM AND PRESIDE.
Ensilage in Virginia.

D Messrs Editors American Furn,er:
had no intention whatever to try eve l
an experiment with .'ensilage" at the be-
ginning OF last year. Finding out, how
:. ever. that my grass crop would be very
short, something had to be done to supple
ment it. Mlllet and green corn must be
the crops at that late date to depend on.
Having to leave home, directions were
left to plant a certain lot of ground with
corn. After protracted drought it rain
ed, and the corn. two bushels, was drilled
on the 9th of July, 1880. in rows three
feet apart. Land measured about an
acre stepped off, and was worked twice
with double shovel plow. Rained 14th
September and 18th October; crop much
injured by drought, stunted in growth and
burnt up at bottom.
Commenced digging the ''silo, % October
I'd; dimensions "a eft K TT; foored and
lined on sides and ends with old plank;
plank projecting about one foot above
ground. }J go
1 Commenced filing October 9Th, using
Hay Cutter. Capacity Of cutter said to
he $50 bushels an hour. Put in first day
me and half feet in depth; fodder verv
vet with dew. Put in all the corn BY the
,vening of October Sta. which filed silo
four and half feet. did not know how
large silo to dig for the corn, and its be-
ing TOO large was a great fault. Tramped
with men and not with animals. Instead
Towering with dirt. put up an old fash
toned "top-fodder'' house over the silo.
rhe morning after, having had every thing
prepared for the purpose, we covered the
silo with plank, after putting in some
straw. and weighted it with sixteen loads
# rock, estimated at 1000 lbs. each, max
/ 'ng 1000 lbs. to the square yard.
Wishing to make ensilage last until as
near the putting out of spring grasses as
nossible, the silo was not opened until
February 4th, inst. It was found to be
in a perfect state of preservation. the bast
proof of it's excellence being that the COWS
lat it with avidity.
The amount fed to the COWS is as much
IS prudence will admit at first. The
amount can be doubled, and will then feed
ten cows two ~ months. Since using
he ensilage the flow of milk has increased
md the butter is becoming yellower. AL
ogether the experiment has been most
satisfactory to me. S.
HGlifaC Co., Va, Feb. Feb. II, 1881.
EFFECT OF ENsILAGE ON BUTTER.-
contrary to their usual habit, the farmers
# this country, who are usually so conser-
vative that they have to be urged for years
to test the value of anything which to
them appears to be new, have taken hold
4 this recently introduced mods of pre-
serving fodder and other food for stock,
with great zeal. The question has been
lsked, as to the effect Of the ensilage upon
he products of the dairy. One who has
ried it-and we were before well assured
the correctness of the result Of this
rial-gives the following statement:
am feeding no more meal this year than
did last winter, and seven of my hefers
re still giving in the aggregate twenty
four quarts of milk daily. have still in
shall need but little hay in addition to
make this last my stock through the whit
Ar.
Some of my unprogressive neighbors still
.rgue that it would be better to feed corn
anhusked in the bundle than to prepare .
ind feed ensilage. Such persons are not
,nly ignorant of the many advantages Of =
Ansilage, but are 80 prejudlced against this
innovation that they Judge without knowl-
'dge. However, at least one hundred Of
5he advanced farmers IN this section have
visited and examined my silo, and vent
IRE to predict that many new silos will be
constructed hereabouts during the coming
eason.
Many doubts have been expressed con-
corning the quality Of butter produced
through ensilage as feeding material. 1
can only add that my last lot of butter in.
December sold in Boston at 81 cents per
pound, while average winter-made butter
was quoted at % to 26 cents per pound
However, ensilage needs no bolstering up
by big stories, but will yet revolutionize
New England farming through it's own
merits.-Country Gentleman.
CRANBERRY PIE.-There are various
ways to make a cranberry pie; some make
it open like custard or pumpkin pie
This is good, but not SO good as to cover
like An apple pie. DO not stew the berries,
IS some do before baking, but slit each
berry with knife. This will preserve
The freshn, IS of the fruit, which is quite
IN important thing. A cupful of berries
md an equal quantity Of white sugar will
nake,a medium-sized pie. Those who
ike sweet pie should have more sugar,
also more berries if desired, Bake as usa
Il. A little flour sifted over the fruit gives
t thicker consistence. One thing should
not be forgotten. add small teacupful of