Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-23
ENSILAGE.

copied then from a standard journal has
gone the rounds, furnishing entertaining
and instructive reading to many farmers
and stock growers. The Southern Planter
publishes a communication on ensilage from
Mr.. John Washington, of Caroline county,
Va, who is one of the most progressive
farmers in the Eastern part of the State
He is more than that-his practical infor-
nation is supplemented by reading and in
vestigation, and when he favors his brother
farmers with the results of his management
he renders them valuable service, and for
their advantage he cannot too often occupy
a place in the Planter, our State journal OF
agriculture. Mr.. Washington says he has
now five silos, and proposes to dig several
more this Summer. He selects the ground
on or near the top of a hill, to avoid water
rising from the bottom. A pit 16xSxS will
cure sufficient for three COWS one year. He
extends the roof several feet beyond the
walls. We observe that his experience
teaches him to prefer cutting the corn at a
later stage of its growth than is generally
practiced He gives his methods as fol-
lows
81 prefer to cut when it is going out of
roasting or milk state, or becoming too
hard for table use. At this stage, the stalk,
ear, and blade have about taken from the
soil and atmosphere all they will get. do
not permit the corn to lie On the ground
four or five days before using it in the silo,
BUT cut it after the dew or rain has dried,
draw it directly to the silo, pass it through
the cutting machine, trample well during
this process, put on boards and weights at
night to cause as much packing as possible
until the silo is filled. Cover with chaff or
straw few inches, then with boards and
weights. find boxes filed with sand much
more convenient than earth-the latter will
fall into the ensiIage when opened for use.
I open the silo few feet at a time and use
to the bottom. This avoids the action of
the atmosphere on that exposed. which in
warm weather quickly willis. The sand
boxes are readily moved back, as the ensi
lage is taken out. think sour ensilage is
the result of corn being too young and wa
terry when cut. A silo of the dimensions
above will contain so, 000 lbs. Of nutritious
and digestible food. 1t can be raised from
two acres of land in Virginia. Three lbs.
of ensilage are equal to two lbs. of hay;
deduct one-third, and we have $4,000 lbs.
of hay in value raised on two acres. of land,
or 10000 lbs. per acre. The best grass
lands of the Northwest or of tho Valley of
Virginia will not make tons of hay per
acre. Much of the land in East Virginia
will produce it, in ensilage-corn, or corn
ensilage, equal in value, and more easily
assimilated as food for all cattle and
sheep"
Continuing, he argues that by resorting
to ensilage as food for stock, the lands of
the East can be made as remunerative, in
raising beef and sheep and for dairying pur-
poses, as natural grass-lands. He refers
with evident pleasure to his years expert
ence with dairy in that 'grass-forsaken''
country, "not a Summer, but all-the-year-
round dairy" but closes without further
dwelling on that feature of his instructive
communication. We hope the Planter will
press him into more active service through
its columns; for the cultured, practical
teaching of one so we'll qualified to lead the
way will solve difficult problems that beset
our agricultural industries in many ways
Not only the Eastern, but the Valley farm
ers, can be greatly benefited by learning
his advanced views and economic meth
DDS.
In the SPECTATOR of the 10Th of May, we
referred to the progress of ensilage, partic-
ularly in England, Immediately upon the
publication of the tests of the French agri-
culturist who first introduced that method
of curing green food for stock. In 1880,
there were only four silos in that country
now there are twelve hundred. This econ
omy has passed beyond the experimental
stage, and is now regarded as established
there. At the experimental station of
Rothampstead, careful summings-up are
given, and it would be we'll for those not
practically informed-as but few are in our
country-to note some of the conclusions
arrived at, which is also touched upon in
the communication of Mr.. Washington, es-
pecially with reference to the quality and
time of cutting. The Rothampstead in
structions are that it will be waste of
time and labor to attempt to make good
food by ensilage if the crop is not in the
right condition and good for food. The
tests in value show it Gas proven in this
country to be first-class food for fattening
beef, and for dairying purposes.
The silo in England is coming into COM
petition with ordinary hay-making. Hay
can only be properly made in dry seasons.
Grass can be turned into ensilage regard
less of the state Of the weather. It's intro
duction into the Gulf States as preserver
of the cow-pea may work wonderful re-
suits there, and in sections where that crop
is prolific in growth.
Six years ago, there were only six silos
in the United States. Now there are two
thousand. The progress making and the
continuing interest manifested will go On
indefinitely, diffusing benefits through
which the South may become butter and
cheese-making and a beef-fattening coun-
try for export.