Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-01-30
Aorirultnral 5epartment.
ENSILAGE.

In the meeting OF the boaia vi
Agriculture at Woodstock, IN the DIS
cussiou of s.Silos and Ensilage, the
following came out;
ST. Sterlin of Woodstock believes
that the system will prove successful,
would advise building silos of con-
crete, as the cheapest and best in the
ond He would raise corn for ensi-
lace as the most profitable; would
cut quite fine and pack solldly IN the
silo-a very important matter; is
feeding COWS, sheep and horses, and
thus far it works well. He intends
to raise rye to feed another season
when the grass commences to fail, be-
lieving this will be superior to feed
ing fodder corn as usually practiced.
The paper was brief and to the point.
Prof. Sanborn of the New Hamp-
shire college farm, followed Mr.. Ster-
lin in discussing the silo question.
He is of the opinion that this ques-
ton, which is exciting so much atten-
ton, will undoubtedly prove of much
benefit to the interests of agriculture,
although he is not particularly in IA
vor of the system. Taking the cost
of silo, cutting apparatus and ex-
pense of raising and putting the corn
into ensilage, is of opinion that corn
can be grown and cured as fodder
much more cheaply, and that as good
results will be obtained from feeding
it as the ensiIage. He spoke of the
value of a proper combination of
food-an important matter, but which
has been previously reported. He is
satisfied that an acre of corn proper
ly raised and ripened will be worth
more, grain and fodder, than the en-
silage produced from the same
amount of land. He believes that
there is as great or greater loss from
the ensilage in the silo than there is
in curing field corn. He admits that
ensilage may be fed in combination
with other foods, but this may also
be furnished equally well with dry
kinds of food.
Prof. Sanborn was obliged at this
stage of the meeting to leave, and af-
ter singing by the choir, DR.. Cutting
occupied the time in discussing the
question under consideration. He
asked Mr.. Sterlin sharp series of
questions, relating to the state of the
ensilage exhibited, which resulted in
the conclusion that it had passed the
first stages Of fermentation and eX-
hibited plain traces of acetic acid.
There are many contradictory state
ments being made in relation to this
new system, and farmers are anxious
for more light. Whether it will con
tinue to be healthy food is seri-
GUS question, which many are wait.
ing to have satisfactorily answered
Would not advise farmers to 90 t
too great expense in building silo'
until more light is afforded. Com
pared mouldy corn fodder to ensi
lage in its composition. There arr
several varieties of this mould, som,
of which are highly nutritious, while
others are injurious. There is usual
ly from Il to IA per cent of water il
Stock take very little water when fe'
ensilage. Finds from authorities tina
if animals are not allowed to drin
too largely of cold water at time tn
system will not suffer in consequence
1t appeared that Mr.. French, o
Woodstock, had lost some valuabl
horses fed upon ensilage. The horse
first lost the use of their tongues
could not eat or drink, and when dea
little ensilage and some fluid wa
found in their stomachs, but the Ell
silage was dark colored and the
stomachs infamed. Was it the effeC
of the acetic acid in the ensilagt
which was very sour? Is there dar
ger in the acid so contained? All al
invited to furnish facts if any al
known.