Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-24
AGRTUULTUNNL.
SiiOs and Ensilnge.

rooms, in size lix45 feet, fifteen feet deep
and divided by wooden partition. Ten
feet in height of the walls are of stone,
with four feet of wood on top. The cost
of this silo was $3.50. The only crop
used for cnsilage was fodder corn, the
latter planted in drills and cultivated
three times, the land being well manured.
The fodder was harvested after the grain
had formed on the ear. BY actual
weight twenty-three tons to the acre were
harvested on three acres, and on ten other
acres about twelve tons to the acre, fif-
teen tons to the acre being about an aver
age crop. Experience shows that the
harvesting, chopping and filling should
be done as rapidly as possible. II con-
yenient the silo should be filled, covered
and weighted in two days. Assuming 3l5
per acre for manure, $15 per acre for
planting and cultivating, with crop of
fifteen tons to the acre, seventy-fivc cents
per ton for cutting, drawing and packing,
ensilage would cost S2.75 per ton. Six
weeks elapsed before opening the slo.
The temperature of the ensilage on open
ing was found to be 90o. The condition
was apparently perfect, the fermentation
vinous and stopped at that point. No
deterioration was noticeable during the
consumption of the 100 tons of ensilage.
Mr.. Cannon, in estimating the value of
cnsilagc for stock, considers it more than
the equal of hay, considering the cost of
each. An average of eighty-fve pounds
per head was fed daily to three-years old
steers for five and half months En-
singe was fed in connection with three
pounds of grain daily for each animal.
Cattle thus fed made II greater gain and
were in better health and condition than
others fed on twenty pounds of chopped
hay and three pounds of grain. Mr.
Cannon writes 81 consider ensilage
profitable and believe it is entirely
healthy, taking the place of roots 1t is
easily digested, as is shown by the uni
form temperature Of .he animals and the
condition Of the skin and hair That en-
silage has certain advantages cannot be
denied, though certain claims made by
enthusiasts are cxtravagant. Not more
than fifteen to twenty-five tons can be de-
pended upon per acre. 1t is more GER
tain as n crop than hay. Twice as many
animals can be kept on the same acreage.
1t is largely Il substitute for roots. The
labor of feeding ensilage is much less
than hay. The space required to store
ensilage is not one quarter that required
for hay. present the following expert
ment fed ninety three year old steers,
divided in three lots cattle and feed
weighed monthly. First lot-Fed twen-
ty pounds hay with three pounds grain
daily; run in yard with shelter. Second
lot-Kept in warm stable and stanchions :;
fed II! pounds hay, one peck mangels
and three pounds of grain. Third lot
Fel! eighty-fivc pounds ensilage with
three pounds grain The third lot gained
one quarter pound n day more than lot
number two, and one-half pound more
than lot number one The comparative
cost Of feeding was five per cent in favor
of onsilagc.
One of the best methods of keeping
manure is to have 1t under a leaky roof,
which keeps it moist, but prevents wash
ing and drenchiug by rains.
A wind-brea properly arranged near a
strawberry bed will cause the snow to
lodge on it. This makes the best protec-
ton for the winter that can be had.
Lime should only be applied in II finely
divided condition, and not i'll small Jumps.
MS is frequently the case. The finer the
particles the more immediate its action.
Those who use lime as fertilizer APP
ply from ten to fifty bushels to the acre
ashes may be applied at the same rate,
salt at the rate OF 200 to 400 pounds, and
plaster at the rate of 100 pounds.
A great dairy exhibition will be held at
Milwaukee in December, from the 4th to
the 9th inclusive. There will be four.
teen classitications i'll butter, the sweep,
stakes premium in class A being $3.50.
Before the ground freezes II liberalsup
ply of good, fine road dirt should bt
placed under cover for winter use. II
affords n dusting place for fowls, can bt
used on stock to assist in driving away
parasites, and makes IN excellent absorb
ent for liquids.
Don't overfeed the hogs and let then
eat sour feed or feed left over, but Civ,
| them freely three time n day all they vii
: eat up clean and relish it. Add to thu
corn diet turnips, pumpkins, potatoes
apples, etc, as II relish. 1t will hell
: them to eat and digest more corn.
A good mess of carrots keeps the hors
i'll good condition, and turnips and refus
potatoes make refreshing change for TIN
cattle. All the root crop should be care
, fully slowed away i'll an accessible loca
ton for winter feeding, and such food i
! not only economical, but promotive o
health and contentment.
Prof. w. j. Boul is experimenting witt
sproutod wheat, and has arrived at tin
conclusion that it can be safely used 70
:. seed. The wheat he is using already ha
, sprouted six times. 1t seems to be n lit
+ tie weaker at each sprouting, and eacl
r time small portion fails, but at the frs
trial II large per cent grows well.
1t is very important for farmers VIII
grow potatoes largely 10 select the see'
= tubers the previous fall. At diggin!
time, or somewhat earlier, mark the hill
! which have strong, vigorous plants an
! other year. A small potato from such
7 hill is presumably better than a mucl
larger potato from hill that died prema
a turely.
/ Farmers generally lay out too nue.
! work for the help they employ. The bes
Y rule is not to attempt the cultivation @
n large areas, but to make the land produc
the largest yields. If one acre of groun
can be made to produce fifty bushels G
d wheat that is far better than to appropri
o ate two or three or four acres in the pre-
= duction of the same quantities
- Peach trees should have mulch aroun
r. the base and under the branches. In tn
y spring peach trees should be we'll cult
s waited, and during the summer they shorl
;, be cultivated nearly the same as corr
d With good treatment the trees will liv
d to double the age of those neglected
/, Mineral fertilizers show good results whe
4 applied to them.
% In keeping sheep over winter they wi
% do very well ON coarse hay and straw
" provided they are given feeding Of oa
/. and corn at least once day The ewt
that are expected to give the early laml
=. should be literally fed, while those con
n ing Inter Oh shonld be separated NJ