The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-01-11
farm aud Garaem.
conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture
DR.. Bailey's Book on Ensilage.


We have previously called attention to
the book of Ensilage or the New Dispen-
sation for Farmers" by DR.. John M.
Bailey, of Bellerica, Massachusetts,. We
have not space for any extended extracts
from this work. 1t will well repay pc
rusal
The cost of keeping stock by this sys-
tenn, appears from DR.. Bailey's expert
ments to be less than half as much as by
the present system of hay and grain. The
book gives in plain, practical manner,
all the necessary instructions, details, and
specifications for building silos of all
sizes, and the manner of preserving green
forage by this system also plans of model
dairy establishments adapted to the sys-
tenn of ensilage.
DR.. Bailey builds hir silos with con-
crete walls about half below the surface
of the ground, being cheaper than bricks,
costing about 10 cents per cubic foot or
$l.25 for each ton capacity. AS gen
eral rule he says silos should be rectan-
gular in form, width one-third the length
and height two-ffths the length, and if
possible be sunk one-half below the sur
face of the ground. If there is a side hill
near the stables, so that the surface will
come near the top of the wall at one end
of the silos it will be found very con
venient in filling the silos, in weighing
the forage, and in removing the weights,
as fed"
Among the conclusions he arrives at
are that silOs 40 to so feet long, Is to Is
feet wide, and Is to "a deep, are the
cheapest; they will not cost more than
one dollar for each tons capacity. AS
two tons of ensilage are worth more than
one ton of Timothy, the comparative
economy of ensilage is at once manifest.
They require no repairs, and if properly
built will last for ages. The cost of stor-
age for ensilage is about six cents per ton,
yearly. Which is much less than storing
hay. DR.. Bailey says he has had the
pleasure of showing his silos to Charles
Il. Flint, Secretary of the State Board of
Agriculture of Massachusetts,, who after
critically examining the silos, the ensil-
age, and the stock fed upon it, declared
that the system of ensilage would work
perfect revolution in agricultural meth
DDS in this country" DR.. Bailey goes on
to say, "The system of ensilage reduces
the comparative value of good Timothy
to 81 per ton, and greatly reduces the
storage. The labor of feeding is lessened
materially; the health, condition, and
appearance of stock is immeasurably i'm
proved. In short, it will bring about
upon its general introduction and adop-
ton, an agricultural millennium--al-
most. In some part of his book, he says
one acre, on this system, will support
cow for twelve months.
If Mr.. Harrison plan; previously men
toned, will do, of covering the pits with
straw and dirt as for turnips, and the.
sides with boards, or Mr.. Hunters, (of
Amelia), of putting the silos under sheds,
without any protection to the sides of the
pit, then we see how cheap the system
may be rendered.
We should be afraid however, to trust
to this straw and earth covering for fear
OF the admission of water, and the diff
Guilty of getting access to the forage
probably it would be an improvement on
this plan to cover with boards on level
with the ground, breaking the joints, and
then raise the mound over the boards
then in feeding, cut through the mound
to the boards, and take up one or two
boards at time, going on down to the
bottom of the pit.
That is in storing-the fodder corn is COM
pressed in a much smaller space than dry hay
can be, and the cost of the structure is less than
barns; To store the hay as cheaply, 100 tons
should be stored In barn to cost scooter
which it could not be built.