The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-28
farm aud Garden.
conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture.
EnSilage.

ticularly if they will put it away In pits
(silos), which undoubtedly have advan-
tages over attempting to cure it in the
fields and then harvestingit it. If no other
advantage, the saving is greatly on the
side of the pits. If properly preserved
in pits there is scarcely any waste, but II
it is cured in the field there is the loss
by SCATTERING of the blades, by stock
refusing to eat the stalk, as they do when
cured, whereas by keeping it In the green
state in pits they eat almost every inch
of it. Besides this, if the dried fodder
corn is attempted to be housed it is very
apt to spoil, for it is almost impossible to
cure it-and if left in the fields until fed,
as is generally done, there is much loss
by rains and SHOWS teaching and rotting
it. The cost in pits is no more than
housing it, as large quantity is com
pressed in small space. Besides the
economy there are other advantages.
The stock relish it almost as much as
they do when fresh cut from the field, af-
ter day or twos use of it, when they
get accustomed to the slightly fermented
taste, which does not generally go beyond
alcoholic fermentation. By the last of
winter they get very tired of dry feed,
and relish the change to ensilaged fodder
corn very much
These pits may be prepared with much
less. expense than is usually practiced
If dug in red clay, particularly if on an
incline, there is no real use in having any
planking or bricking up-the firm clay
will answer. And if dug under shell
ter, the planks or brick may be dispensed
= with. If not under shelter then provide
good shingle-roof. We kept fodder
gle-roof with red clay sides, except the
first Il to 2 feet, which was mostly
spoiled by having the planks which go
across the short way exactly the width
of the pit, through inadvertence of the
man | left TO manage it. The sides were
slightly "splayed" to prevent caving,
and as the planks sank with the heavy
weight they caught on the side and adj
mitted air on the sides, the planks being
carried down in the centre against the
fodder. My fodder-corn was not cut up,
not being provided with cutting ma
chine, but put in straight and heavily
weighted lied some of it until first of
July in good condition.
We give an article on the subject found
in late number of the Southern Plant
En-, from Capt. F. Guy, of Chesterfield,
very practical, reliable, and successful
farmer. 1t is copied from the american
Farmer, with comments:
Experience with Ensilage.
Capt F. Guy, of Virginia, gives in the
Southern Planter the following report of
his experiment in preserving corn-fodder
and its results as feed, and his report is
worthy Of notice as that of very practi-
cal and successful farmer The economy
of the construction of his silo is striking
There seems to be variety of opin-
ions in regard to ensilage, as to whether
it is profitable or not. Having read M
Gofart's book Ensilage of Maize and
very many articles from practical farm
ers, and also conversed with several gen
tlemen who have tried it and were we'll
pleased with it, at last determined to
try it myself on a small scale. I had
pit dug ten by fifteen feet, seven feet
deep, and tile drain of two inches from
the bottom, to secure perfect drainage
all at cost of S.. / then foored it with
inch pine boards, and boarded up the
sides perpendicularly with the same ma
terial, like an ice-house, and dropped in
frame Of three by four scantling at the
top, to keep it from caving. Entire cost
Of boards, including roof, $1,000; work,
81; total cost, $3.50; capacity, 80 cubic
yards, or about Is tons. l had a plenty
OF nice corn-fodder growing, and cut 30
large carloads filled as high as we could
haul it $50 yards. With one horse we
filled it in fifteen hours, cutting with two.
mules, and trampled by one man all the
time, costing So to fill entire cost, $26.5O
for Is tons and building. 1 had but lit
tie faith in my experiment, but deter
mined to test it fairly SO I did not open
it until the lst of April, and have fed
three mich cows and FIVE dry cattle until
the middle Of June, giving two feeds per
day of half bushel to each at a feed. and
then as much dry corn-fodder as they
would eat the balance of the day. When
l began to feed my COWS they were citing
beets twice daily, and at first they refused
to eat the sour stuff. l then put some
meal and salt on it, and in few davs
they ate it kindly, and even refused to
eat the beets any longer, and to my entire
surprise they gave more milk and we
made more butter from the cream than
when we fed on beets; and yet the
strangest thing of all is, that since the