Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-02-16

ton in the silo, because we have as vet
no accurate data by which to calculate
that loss in the case of heavily weighted
ensilage in tight masonry pits. That it
can be left out Of account without lead
ing us far astray is indicated by results
given by Professor Cook, of New Jersey,
who found that the loss Of dry substance
in the curing of the fodder in the old way
was almost as great as by fermentation in
the silo.
In respect of cheapness of production
OF given quantity of nutrient substance,
corn fodder, whether put into the silo or
not, has therefore no advantage over
roots, and is inferior to even ordinary
hay. Here we find the weak spot in the
system, and it is n weakness that should
lead one think of the cost before invest
ing too largely in expensive masonry ST.
los, and to watch with the greater interest
the results obtained in simple old-fash-
loned trenches, such as some are using
eAen on large scale in this country. To
this view of the matter it will be objected
that ensilaged corn fodder has a feeding
value that is not indicated by its com
position, and that pound of its dry sub
stance will produce more milk than
pound Of dry substance Of similar com
hydrates III hay or other fodder. To this
1t must be replied that as yet no salts
factory proof has been given that by en-
silage corn fodder it is made any more
nutritious, digestible or productive. For
this proof we must wait until careful di.
gestion and feeding experiments shall
have been performed with corn fodder
from the same field, part ensiaged and
part cured dry.
What then are the well-established ad-
vantages of ensilaging fodder? The svs-
TEN applied to fodder corn enables the
farmer to produce from limited area Of
ground larger quantity OF nutrients for
cattle than can he obtained in any other
crop except roots and at no greater cost
than in roots. The fodder thus obtained
is, without any further preparation most
| palatublc to cattle, is eaten without waste
and IA perfectly wholesome. Like the
1oct crop it carries into the winters feed
some OF the succulency OF the summers
pasturage, and, given with the dry feed,
keeps the animals in better condition,
and therefore may enable them to pro-
ducc more milk or flesh on the sum total
Of the fodder of all kinds coming from
the farm. Over roots it possesses the adj
vantage that, being somewhat richer in
albumlnolds, 1t requires smaller addi-
ton of o.her fodder still richer in this
nutrient to maks a suitable ration for the
production of milk, or for the fattening
or growing animal. In the degree of in
dependence of the state of the weather it
the time OF harvesting it possesses an adj
vantage over any other summer crop.
since it may be stored in any sort of
weather in which work is possible ont Of
doors In some seasons this may be Il
very important matter, and it lncurs no
risk from the frosts that occasionally
damage the root crop. Finally by stor-
ing early green crops in tins way pro-
vision, often sadly needed, may be made
for maintaining the supply OF succulent
fodder in the late summer and early fall,
when the fields are SO often burned mp by
drouth, aud both pastures and stock will
suffer by continued forced pasturage, and
the necessity of resorting to dry feed will
cause diminished production at time
when the whole machinery of the farm or
the dairy or both may demand that pro-
duction shall be kept up at least to the
average mark. Further experience and
experimentation with the eusilagc may
show that the system is capable OF ac-
complishing more than has been granted
in this summary, but until this has been
conclusiyely shown the prudent farmer
will not calculate upon more.