Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-16

ly proposes not TO so corn for fodder, but 10
raise only rich, sweet, perennial grasses for
ensilage
"a farm Of 100 acres ordinarily keeps about
20 COWS. On farm Of 100 acres, upon Mr..
Millss system of ensilage he ses to keep
300, using 30 acres for ensilage and the other
20 to grow his grain on. From the exceeding
richness produced by the manure from 80
many animals, be thinks he can raise sufli-
cient grain ON the 40 aores-thal is TO say,
about so bushels Of corn or 30 bushels OF
wheat to the acre. Heretofore he says that
II has required 200 acres Of land TO pasture
his animals; but he proposes in the future to
keep the same number on | / acres, and keep
them for the winter, to say nothing about
grain. Aud then, instead Of planting 10 or
II acres to winter them, he will plant % acres
and winter and summer them on the product
He says he shall keep $50 head of cattle on
the product of 25 acres OF land the year
round, and have the balance of his farm say
2f5 acres--to grow grain on. The difference
in cost between the maintenance Of an animal
under the system ordinarily adopted by farm
ers and that adopted by Mr.. Mills, he claims
is the difference between $50 per annum and
Sl2 per annum in other words, il does not
cost him over SIP per head to maintain his
animals for one year, while il costs a farmer
under the ordinary process $50 for the same
time.
81 am aware that there are many interested
in agriculture who doubt the ultimate success
of the system of ensilage, and who have ex-
pressed fear rs to its effect on the health OF
stock and the value of their product but
know of no more practical man among them
than the gentleman whose views have quot
ed. He is well-known and conservative
business man, a member Of the produce ex.
change of New York, aud his conclusions as
to the system which he is pursuing are entitled
to the gravest consideration. That he has no
doubt of their correctness is evident He has
demonstrated their value to himself and can
certainly show, through the condition OF his
stock and the value of their product, a reason
for the faith that is in him. | hope and be-
leve that the system which have seen sue
cessfully working on his farm will be estab-
lished as a safe system for the agriculture OF
this country. From Maine to the Ohio line.
including the New England and Middle states,
the farmers are bemoaning the condition OF
their lands, under which they cannot com
pete with the rich aud easily cultivated lands
OF the west. The western states, too, are
suffering annually an immense loss through
the depletion consequent on raising grain for
export How great this depletion is can be
clearly comprehended from the fact that the
exhaustion of mineral constituents from the
soil-namely, phosphoric acid and potash
was equal in value to 500, 600, 900 in 1879,
when the value Of the corn crop was estimat-
ed at $500 COG, OOO-or 20 per cent Of the
value of the crop Mills's system Of ensiage
will, in my opinion, re-create the agricultural
industry Of the East, re-enrich the depleted
lands of the West and greet it with vel
come aud thanksgiving, because OF the bless
ing that inheres in it for the agriculturists Of
this country and the consumers Of the world
The great dairying interest of the country
must greatly prosper under this system: but
ter and cheese can be produced at a much
lower price than the present cost, and at more
profit, and Of much better quality than the
best now on the market; and the oleomarga-
rine or manufactured grease now sold fraudu
lently in conflict with natural butter, and the
lard cheese, will be displaced by genuine but
ter and cheese of the best quality, both in the
home aud foreign markets.
To an American will belong the honor
and fame Of having perfected the system of
ensilage, in his discovery Of the value Of uni
form continuous pressure and the method of
applying il"