Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-06-14

The american 6ULglU1tOr prints as al
Illustrating the unfairness with which Ger
tain pro essed scientists treat the subject
of ensilage," the following concerning the
course pursued by DR.. james R. Nichols
member of the Massachusetts, state board
of agriculture, whose official position
makes the theories he promulgates tho
more dangerous, and influences the opin
IONS of his fellow members Of the board,
IS we'll as its secretary, Mr.. John +
Russell:
Dr. Nichols is looked upon as the cham
ion of those who have little or no faith in
nsilaye, his pen and voice are busily en-
loved in warning the farming classes
rainst the use of ensilage, and in depre
,,atiug its estimated feeding value. Know
ng that Secretary Russell's opinion was
ounded on hearsay evidence and net upon
nv experiments with his own silo, W.
determined to visit DIR. Nichols farm at
i,yerhill, Mass, and learn for ourselves
sne cause of his i'll success, or Mt least his
,nfayorable opinion of silos and ensilage.
So last month we drove up to the doctor 5
celebrated farm to see his slo. We learn
| d. much to our surprise, that the doctor
| nd neither silo nor cattle, nor sheep, mol
! wine; that the farm was closed for the
season that it was only used as place OF
| nmmer resort for the doctor and his most
.stimable family during the growing sea
on, We arc then led to presume that his
experiments with ensilage were made in
,is CITY residence, with the blow pipe am
ucible of his well-warmed laboratory
and surrounded with the choicely bount
olumes of his chemical library
However, our visit to Haverhill was moi
failure. Even this disappointment hat
It, conversations Having learned thai
Mr. Thomas Sanders of Birchbrow Farm
whose broad acres and elegant grounds
Eioin DR.. Nichols country seat, had con
struci ed two sios one in 1880 and secon(
in 1881, we made him call. In our mex
issue we shall give detailed statement o
Mr.. Sanders success with ensllage, con
corning which he is very enthusiastic. Ii
Mr.. Sanders well-appointed stables, barn
and pens we saw fine horses, beautiful
JERSEY cows, well rounded Hereford steer
and goodly specimens ofthe swine family
all consuming ensilage with avldity ant
profit. No practical farmer could talk al
hour with Mr.. Sanders and examine hi
live stock and not become convert to tn
system of ensilaee. We asked Mr.. san
ders why his neighbor, DR., Nichols, wa
80 much opposed to cnsilage. he coul
give us no answer, only remarklng tina
during the past two years the doctor ha
been promising to come over and 100
into the matter of silos and cnsilage, bu
he had never taken the opportunity. Mr.
Sanders, however, thought he could con
vince the doctor of the value OF cnsiiag
if he would take time to look into its actua
practical results on the farm.
On the other side of DR.. Nichols country
seat at IIaverhIl is IL beautiful farm owne
by Mr.. John L. Gale of that city. To th1
we proceeded, TO examine Mr.. Gales sill
and to question him on the subject of CT
-iIage. For want Of space we must defe
full description OF this most succeSstr
sllo until some future number. Suffice
to say Mr.. Gale has fed nearly $50 tons {
epsilaoe to cows that are producing mil
for 4 most fastidous city trade. II
customers are loud in the praise Of NJ
Gales milk, his COWS consume enSllaG
readily, give generous flow OF superlt
} milk, maintain most elegant conditio
I / in health and flesh. Mr.. Gale expects
enlarge his silo capacity thus season; is
full believer in the new system. can fee
nanv head more of stock OIL the san
3 number of acres than under hay feedin
: and thinks he can convince any farm
, who is open to convection of the immen
value and advantage OF cnsilage. WI
) don't you convince your nelghbor, ID
o NicholsP" we remarked. ole does n
G believe the feeding OF ensilage is any a
vantage over the feeding of dry fodder
. II am certain could show him the sup
rior value OF ensIage if he would take Il
, pains to investigate it practically, as
Q have done. DR. Nichols has promise
many times to come over and exami1
nv slo and the effect of ensilage on n
cattle, but up to this time he has nov
: favored me with call"
e. After these Two interesting intervie'
+ we were at loss TO know why, if L
Nichols was seeking facts, he did not spe
:, IN hour with bis neighboring farme
j who would be only too glad to convin
II him OF the error of his conclusions VIII
;, facts were so easy to be had why dape
:. an laboratory theories