The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-05-25
Eneilage.

q Il
This word, which is only a few years
old, CREWS out OF the discovery made by
q Frenehrnan, 4Auguste Gofart, that
green crops, when stored in water-tight
pits called silos, under a heavy pressure,
do not rot, but are preserved fresh and
sweet, AMI retain all their nutritive
juices for a year or more; and that,
when offered to cattle in this condition,
in the winter, are preferred to any dry
food. 1t is not surprising that the dis
covery made sensation among farmers
and cattle feeders in this country, and
that there is exhibited a keen desire to
know all about it; for, not only can
great deal more in weight, of green food
than dry, be raised on an acre, but ensi-
lage possesses the advantage Of supplying
cattle with succulent summer feed in
the winter-an advantage of great value
to miller CATTLE. Any green crop that
stock are fond of when in growing
state is good material for ensilage-grass,
clover, rye, young corn, sorghum and
vegetables; but corn, clover and the
grasses are most generally used, because
when growing they are full of juice,
which is lost In curing into hay or fod-
der, but pfcsexvea ia the silo. Several
kinds of green crops may be packed in
the SAM silo, and tie cnsilage is
said to be improved BY tie variety.
Corn, either drilled or cultivated or
sowns hroadeast, and cut in its most juicy
condffon, is the basis of most ensilage
experifneHfs IN tbs country; it may be
pse}sedsih tho anne silo with clover or
grass 81 any kind c1lt green, and success
sise crops u corn may be planted for
mixture with different kinds of grasses
in their season. As'Nitis estimated that
ten 70 twenty tons weight of green crops
may be cut from an acre Of good soil
five 10 ten times as much as the weight
of adry crop of grain or hay-it is easy
tosee how much more profitable II is to
tosaye green crops In che form OF ensi-
lage. than TO allow them 10 mature and
dry. Col. r. w. Wo1eoH 81 Boston, who
owns a farm near thai city raised 400
tons Of cnsilage on thirty-fo acres
being fourteen tons TO the acre--last
year By raising two crops on the same
soil he has gathered rs much as twenty
one tons per acre.. On one piece Of
ground he gathered thirty-one tons per
acre. but ssthat corn was fourteen feet
high, he says. He adds: 81 am sat
isfied that an acre of ground will keep a
cow twenty-foH months.
When the siloissopened in winter the
contents are fouad~jn sort of cheesy
condition, and require to be sliced off
with q sharp axe They have under
gone q slow and. slight fermentation
which does not impair their merits as
feed and is not offensive to cattle. In
deed Che first smell OF ensilage is said
tpaset cattle wild for it. and they pre-
Ter it to any other kind of feed.
-Silos are varieusly constructed. The
usaalplan is to- dig pits ten feet wide,
fifteen feet deep and as long as may be
desired, on sloping ground, and make
them -water-tight with cement. Mr.. G.
w Mills of Ponlpton, New Jersey, pre-
fers to build a strong frame, boarded up
tight aud close with thick lumber, en-
tirely above the ground, something in
the fashion of an lee house The green
crops may be packed into them, either
whole OF. cut up with a cutter; each plan
has It's advocates, though the weight OF
opinion is. in favor of cutting, as it al
lows of closer packing. AS the crops
are thrown in they are tread down as
closely near the edges as possible, and
when the siio is full it is covered and
weighted with heavy rocks or earth, and
ensshedded oyer to protect it from the
weather. In few weeks the ensilage
is ssripe' and ready for use. One end
of the silo, If built along the ground,
may be opened and the ensilage cut onl
and fed as it is wanted. Its quality viii
depeadson the crops of which it is made
and the care with which. they are packed
away. Nearly all animals will eat it
cattle like it and thrive on it, and for
: mich cows it is particularly valuable,
as it increases their flow of milk and
keeps them in cheerful, healthy condi-
ton. Louis Republican,.