Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-10-29

terest In the vicinity. Having discussion
opened by competent person who has
made careful preparation. Avoiding the
mistake of having so many topics or such
big papers that there is not time for free
discussion-rarely is it wise to have more
than three topics for any half day session
keeping the men who have private or
personal "a1es to grind and also all
''cranks' in the back ground. Avoiding
all topics which would lead to political
or partisan discussion and including
some of special interest to the families
of farmers; also some of interest to all
citizens.
The meetings should be held where II
will be most convenient for farmers and
their families to attend. Often small
village is better than an ambitious city
Usually it is well to have few men take
part from without the district or county:
but, ordinarily, the larger work of the in
stitute may be safely left to residents of
the vicinity
G. E. MORROW.
Prof. of Agriculture.
University, Champaign, III.
Ensilage Experiments.
Agricultural Gazette.
A preliminary paper of the results of
ensilage experiments at Rothamsted in
the season of 1866 is contributed by
Sir John Lawes. 4 silo was filed with
so tons of first-croP red clover and As
tons of secOnd-crop red clover. The first
crop was very succulent indeed, and con-
tanned when put into the silo as little as
II per cent. of dry matter, and therefore
as much as So per cent. of water. The
second crop was much less watery, and
contained % per cent. of dry matter and
only IS per cent. of water when put in.
OF the so tons of frst-crop put in only
46 tons were weighed out as ensilage,
thus making a loss of 81 tons by drain
ing fermentation, and evaporation. This
loss includes II tons of the actual dry
matter of the so tons of clover or nearly
% per cent. of the total dry matter, an
enormous loss of food constituents. The
greater part of this loss falls upon the
carbohydrates in the fodder, but near
ly orethird of the heterogeneous matter
has also disappeared, and about one-third
of the mineral constituents. At first
sight this loss appears somewhat appall-
ing, and might prompt the farmer to
forthwith abandon any notion of ensiling
at any rate his clover But on inquiry in
it is learned that a good deal, if not the
chief part of this loss is to be attributed
for there was crack near the bottom of
silo, and through this crack nearly two
tons of juice was squeezed into an empty
silo next door. Indeed the fact that the
mineral water as well as the organic mat
ter became reduced would in itself suffice
to indicate that the loss by drainage must
have been very great. Now the forty
eight tons of second crop clover lost
| nothing like this proportion. The total
loss of substance was less than three tons,
or barely per cent, and of this more
than two tons-or more nearly per cent.
consisted of water; so that the loss of &C
tual dry matter or feeding material was
bat about quarter of a ton or little
| over - per cent. of the fresh fodder, or
| about per cent. of the actual dry matter
originally present. The great difference
of these two patches of silage made in the
same pit is attributed by Sir John to two
causes. In the first place the first crop
was far more succulent or waters as al
ready shown) than was the second crop;
while in the second place, the pressure
applied to the second crop in the silo
was greater. For while the silage from
| the first crop was found to weigh when
| taken out seventy pounds per cubic foot.
| that from the second crop was found to
weigh only thirty five pounds per cubic
! foot The conclusion suggested is that
it would certainly appear advisable either
to diminish the pressure applied to the
| silage or to cart the crops in a less sue
| culent condition.