The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-06-26
ABOUT ENSILAGE.
How to Preserve and Cut 1t and How to
Build Silo.


Build a Silo.
Every now and then we have inqui-
ries about ensilage. Many do not know
what it is; more do not know how to
preserve it, how to cut it, how to build
a silo, or whether ensilage is desirable
or profitable. We have several times
briefly answered such questions. Per-
haps it would be well to answer more
fully. Ensilage, then, is usually made
of green corn fodder, but it may be
made of any green fodder that animals,
especially cattle, will eat. Horses, cat
tie, sheep and swine will eat ensilage
and enjoy it, though there are excep-
tons to this rule Whatever is intended
for ensilage should be cut just as it is
approaching maturity, as then it con-
tains the most nourishment 1t is cut
usually by machines made especially
for that purpose. Silos may be made
of stone, brick or wood. They should
be air-tight, and they may be made en-
tirely under ground or entirely above
ground, or partly under and partly
above. If the system is to be adopt
ed we always advise the construc-
ton of a substantial silo A temporary
one may be used for trial of the sys-
tenn. This may consist of a simple
trench dug in the ground and boarded
up, or it is not even necessary to board
it, if the soil is such that the sides will
not crumble. In building a permanent
silo so construct it that it will be prac-
tically air-tight, and have cover to fit
upon the top of the ensilage and weight
it down. just what the size or shape of
the silo shall be must depend upon cir
cumstances and the tastes and judy
ment of the builder. 1t is better to have
several small ones than one large one.
In putting in the crop it is packed down
as closely as possible and weighted
down, though the latter is not consid-
cred absolutely essential The manner
of getting the ensilage out of the silo
any one can decide, according to cir
cumstances. Devise convenient plan
of getting at it, in manner so that it
may be cut with knife made for that
purpose.
Major Alvord, in speaking of ensl-
lage, which he thoroughly understands,
says, first, the cost of preserving a given
crop of ensilage does not materially diff
fer from curing the same crop by dry
ing, in suitable season; but crops can
be ensilaged and preserved In seasons
when they would be lost if drying was
attempted Second, an acre of corn as
ensilage will weigh four times as much
as the same crop dried as fodder Third,
all acre of corn, feld-cured, stored in
the most compact manner possible, will
occupy space ten times as great as if
in the form of ensilage. Fourth, the
chemistry of the silo is still much in the
dark. The contents of any one slo
filed with crops from the same land.
and apparently managed in the same
way, year after year, will differ in con-
dition and qualify in different years.
knowledge of the subject is not yet ac-
curate enough to prescribe with GER
tainty the procedure which will ensure
the best ensilage. Yet any forage crop
can be preserved in a moist, fresh form,
substantially unimpaired as food, al
though there is generally considerable
loss in the carbohydrate elements, anC
a partially compensating gain, both in
the percentage of proteine and the in
, creased digestibility of the fiber. Fifth
,, as food for cattle as well as other kinds
of farm stock, ensilage forms a gooC
and very cheap substitute for roots, anC
its continental effects are especially
apparent, but the usual ensilage crop!
: fail to fill the place of the root crop in {
I judicious farm rotation. Sixth, in feed
= ing the best results follow a moderat,
ration of silage, rather than the entir,
substitution for dry, coarse fodder
Seventh, ensilage, and especially gooc
corn ensilage, when compared W tn DIR,
corn-fodder, or with other feeding stuffs
produce results so satisfactory as to sur
;. prise the chemist, or which chemistr
!" can not explain. Eighth a silo or two
: well built, but not too large or too eX
d pensive, are convenient and economics
r on most farms, to save crops, which a
r times might otherwise be lost, if not t
n preserve sone crops specially grow
y for ensilage. Ninth, the extensive us
J of ensilage upon any farm is chiefly
II question of convenience and economy
:. which local conditions must decide
i We stern Rural,
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- MOVING ROADSlDES.