The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-23

an InOIS' 1HiS Is CUT uOWn l1C9 IOf 1ee0
with a six tined fork clean to the bottom
as the ensilage is used. All the rest Of
the mass is covered, aud has its weight
and compression the same, thereby keep.
ing cut the air and all tendencies to fer.
msntation. As the ensilage is taken il
may be fed to cattle at once, but Mr.. Mills
thinks it better to leave that portion in
tended for feed, when taken from the
silo, to remain exposed for twenty-four
hours. Some slight fermentation then en-
sues, which apparently is advantageous to
the cattle. When one silo, cover by COW
er, is taken off and used, the mass being
cut into from top to bottom until exhaust
ed, the other comes into play. At ARA
reek Farm one silo has been used up, and
about one-half of the other. The ensilsge
gave out sweet vinous odor, had nothing
in the least disagreeable about it, and was
rather pleasant to the taste. 1t was not
warm nor heated, and on COMPRISING the
juice exuded. The ensilage was used in
the proportion of one bushel per diem for
each COW, divided into two feeds, and With
I it was mixed about two quarts Of wheat
brau or middlings. This was all the feed
the animals-cows and horses-had had
during the winter, and the horses looked
quite as handsome as the COWS.
Now as to the question of cost. These
two silos, built in the most substantial
style, cost $3.50 each, or 500 for the two.
The absolute expenses of making the crop,
preparing the ground, seeding, harvesting,
cutting the green stuff, and putting 1t in
the silos, was $780, Capital being 500
employed in the silos, the interest at six
per cent. being s42, aud depreciation on
silos, say, twenty per cent, which would
be the very outside for all possible repairs,
We have, at the very utmost, the cost of
the ensilage TO be S1133 per ton, and
this is most liberal estimate.
Now suppose We make up the cost of
keeping these cattle for the hay alone,
The expenses would have been certainly
in lSS0-S1, for hay, some $4,000. With
the use of the ensilage, Mr. Mills has alb
solutely demonstrated that he wintered
his 40 head of cattle and u herses, 1872
head in all, from the 18th Of October to
the 10Th of May next, seven months, at
an expense of S693, or that each animal
ate an amount the cost of which at the
highest estimate was 1925. The differ
enee, then, between $4,000 for hay, and
say even 500 for epsilage, would show
balance to the credit Of the latter Of $1,000.
Now as to the products derived from
these ensilage-fed cattle. 1t would be i'm
possible for such fat, healthy cattle not TO
give the best of milk. Mr. Mills produces
large quantity of milk, the demand for
which is so great that it is beyond his
capabilities of supply. The yield of milk
is exceedingly large, far beyond that usu-
ally given in winter by hay-fed or even
soft-fed cows, and this milk is of the best
quality. \ lactometer placed in the milk
showed its uncommon richness, as it stood
at not less that 120. Particularly rich in
the fatty substances, the yield of butter is
very large, though the proprietor of the
Arrareek Farm furnishes milk only, aud
does not supply butter.
In all matters Of this kind it is unwise
to form too rapid judgment, for some
times in the most carefully considered
plans there may be initial vices which are
concealed. But there are certain facts in
regard to this method of ensilage which
seem to stand out in the most salient way.
Firstly, the cattle seen were in the finest
possible order when examined at season
when cows and all other farm stock are
usually at heir worst; secondly, the pro-
duet made, the milk, was excellent; and
lastly, this, which is one Of the most i'm
portant Of all factors, seems TO be eonclus-
| lively shown, that if Mr.. Mills 120 cows and
IL horses had been hay-fed for the same
/ time seven months--he would have ex-
pended on each one of them SCI ga, where
as by his system Of ensilage he has arrived
at better results with positive butlay not
exceeding 1925 per head
Agriculturists may do well to ponder
over a system Of this novel character which
presents so many advantages. If in time
this method should be adopted, and its work
ing found to be successful, there will be
a new development given to the dairy and
grazing farms. To the West, anywhere
where this corn can be made TO grow, the
silo system could be adopted. 1t might
be even lucrative for larger farmers to
make ensilage which could be sold to those
who might require it. OF course hay
culture is not to be abandoned, animals,
like human beings, require change, with
rotation Of food: but ensilage could be
used twenty-eight days in the months, or
mixed with small quantity of hay every
day. What Mr. Mills intends doiag in
the future with this system is really re-
markable in the novel direction it takes.
/ When with his numerous cattle he has ca
riehed his Pompton farm so that it shall
be luxuriant with sweet, tender grasses, it
is his intention to take this fresh grass
crop, when he has more than sufficient for
his cows to feed on in summer, aud in the
same pits, and by the same method, in
stead Of making hay, to convert these sue
culent grasses into eusilage.
Arrareek Farm to-day is centre of
great attraction. Visitors from all Sec
tions of the country come to it, and are
amazed when they see a simple process by
which 100 of the finest cows in the eoun-
try have been fed all winter on the pro-
duct of not exceeding thirteen acres of
ground.
PAYING FERTILIZERS The Rural
Nep Yorker says We believe, in this
country of cheap land, it is more profta-
bic, generally, to feed animals, and obtain
the extra manure by purchasing food, than
to pay money for commercial fertilizers.
More pounds of nitrogen, phosphOric acid
and potash can be applied in the manure
made from 500 worth of grain, linseed
meal, cotton seed meal and wheat bran fed
| 10 animals. than &c the S10O were maid di-