Sharp County record., 1881-05-12
" Ensilage."

enpa IsnrinS the past year Silos have been
~ IN 7arions parts of the State, and
lOssd, va been filled with green crops OF
sin ferent kinds As these crops are now
'rd 0 ing fed out to farm stock, there IS an
Vaugs, rnest desire manifested among farm
be eG TO learn the exact results. Already
nverp ouch Is known to warrant the con-
ii IN sion that the subject is one OF great
par nortance and bids fair to change to
md h considerable extent, the old methods
wnS curino fodder and feeding farm stock.
,sDan~, the whole subject is but passing the
est aOi st stages of its infancy, IN thlS coun-
:, some degree of caution Is yet nee
Of fl. sary. As rule the value OF every
Bnrg. W project is over-estimated by Its ilrSt
twol. voeates, and under estimated by It's
mjs st opponents. TO a careful observer
,ndra q subject of ensilage does not appear
vad - he an exception to this rule. If all
at is claimed by its most enthusiastic
anti. vocates we shall soon be able to not
,gvmsllv produce all of the butter cheese
s9o5r--',,,ef ~ ~, and mutton that is consumed IN
, H." e State, but export large quantities TO
ran ~ rope and other portions of the world
ro1,- we are to believe the opponents en-
Is 81 aoe can never be made to produce
nod milk or butter, and the fermenta-
. n, IN which takes place in the sllos de-
II GlS rows what little nutritiVe qualities the
bes oder has when put in. With this wide
VI vi Sfference of opinion it seems necessary
mon at careful investigations should be
7n' ade bv those whose conclusions are
ana 4 waved by neither enthusiasm or preJu-
lansce
gave That we may keep the numerous
i us aders of the PiOUgbmdn informed OF
G q progress and the success or failure
na this new method of keeping green
West tops, we have carefully gathered up,
'e. personal observation and through re-
'hu'e-able channels, every important fact,
deaTG fast as good evidence proves it to be
the tlch. The short time which has elapsed
,rindvnce the first silo was built in this
e use late, renders it very difficult to gather
cessrp MANY well established facts; but
lOpeatere are some which we think of sui1i-
eal cent Importance to place before our
le praaders, and also some points worthy OF
liSh Lttention.
in Ng First-It is a well demonstrated fact
eynat the walls Of a silo should not be
e bel.uilt of brick, unless facedwith cement
insishe brick absorbs the moisture from
le ensiage, which leaves it in state
he Nd rapidly decay. For the same reason
is an unfit material. And above
. J., IL things the farmer should avoid build
lbeD 10 with wood and covering it with zinc
ted fAr lead to keep the moisture in, as the
d toacid of the enslage coming in contact
ing yith these metals will form a deadly
,aVs eoison. Brick may be faced with ce-
Ow rlent, but where the rocks are plenty
tghey are the cheapest and make the
,cord est wall The walls should be per-
len tsendicular and straight and made
n. Ymooth with cement.
ey ca Second--lt is well demonstrated that
ceurhe more compact the ensilage is, if the
bptyater is not pressed out, the better it
rear yill keep. For this reason it should be
10 ut fine, not less than one-half inch in
ength; it should also be well tramped
priHbown as fast as put into the silo. This
important. The whole mass should
9 made compact and kept so with
led 1eavy weights, or other means of press
ced ire.
It req Third-There is no longer any doubt
en- l,ut cattle, horses, sheep and swine will
1ng eadily eat ensilage made of corn, rye
ms md other green crops.
mail Fourth-There is but little doubt that
kept as well as that of Mr..
heioSrancis E. Louds Of Weymouth, will
It taoroduce good sweet milk.
bed d Fifth-lt is a we'll settled fact that
faahwenty-fve tons of green corn fodder
lgCaan be grown on an acre of land
Sixth-It is the testimony OF several
low; hat have tried it, that daily ration of
he Grom fifty to seventy pounds of ensil-
age, and one or two quarts of grain,
as avill keep a good sized milch COW in
condition. On this point our
csbOobservation teaches us that we need
laChlnore time, more exact measurements,
ttacand more care to keep the COWS from
Ehshe haymow, before we settle down to
iCuSust how much each COW needs, for
g.Whevery twenty-four hours to keep her in
Irinlyood condition.
II D Butmaking themost liberal allowances
drIaoi Ohohuoldoul, Cdl0lCSS WclSHIS duu
d measurements, there is every reason to
" s0elieve that we are entering into a
period when great improvements are to
,ntyoe made in our methods of preserving
bresgreen fodder crops, as well as the feed
rsIrng of cattle; and while we are con.
/. Binced that with no better than the best
sersilos we now have, there are many
ided arms where their introduction would
pgreatly add to the profits of the farm.
ure,fhere is every reason to believe that
en- model Yankee silo is not yet built. I'M
D sSorovements in the direction of tighten
,res6ng the labors of the farm are the order
rtypof the day, and while the laborers of
e Europe may be willing to bend their
II Caoacks, to remove twenty-five tons of
,e psrocks several times each year, the Yam
mrbkee will rebel and scratch his head un-
mite s.il he invents some less laborious wav.
ouThe Experience of the past year demon
at strates the Importance of careful inves-
mistigations before attempts to build slo.
the Many mistakes have been made that
pse little knowledge would have enabled
srprssone to avoid. Any one who thinks to
A make saving by building silo IN the
ross ground with boards, will make mis-
oyatake. Anyone who thinks it is no con-
: hSeQuonCe if the fodder is not cut ,noloo