St. Landry democrat., 1886-07-03
ABOUT ENSILAGE.
HOW to Preserve and Cut It and How to
Build Silo.

"~ 70 Preserve ana Cut 1t and How to
Build Silo.
Every now and then we have inoui-
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 enslage is desirable
or profitable We have several times
briefly answered such questions. Per-
haps it would be we'll 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-
lions to this rule. Whatever is intended
for ensllage should be cut just as it is
approaching maturity, as then it con-
talns the most nourishment. 1t is cut
usually by machines made especially
tor that purpose. Silos may be made
of stone, brick or wood They should
be alright, and they may be made en-
tlrely under ground or entirely above
ground, Or partly under and partly
above. Ii 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-
TEN. This may consist of simple
= trench dug in the ground and boarded
up, or it is not even necessary to board
1t, 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 a 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 iudr-
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 ens1-
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, I
an acre of corn, tield-cured, stored in
+I q ar r,oraiI1o
occupy a 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 silo
filled with crops from the same land.
and apparently managed in the same
way, year after year, will differ in con-
dition and quality 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 moist, fresh form,
substantially unimpaired as food, al
though there is generally considerable
loss in the carbohydrate elements, and
a partially compromising 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 good
and very cheap substitute for roots, and
it's continental effects are especially
but the usual ensilage crops
Jail to fill the place of the root crop in a
hdicious farm rotation. Sixth, in feed
ng the best results follow moderate
'ation Of silage, rather than the entire
substitution for dry, coarse, fodder.
Seventh, ensilage, and especially good
'orn ensilage, when compared with dry
,orn-fodder, or with other feeding stuffs,
produce results SO satisfactory as to sur
rise the chemist, or which chemistry
AN not explain. Eighth, silo or two,
veil built, but not too large or too ex-
'ensive, are convenient and economical
n most farms, to save crops, which at
ines might otherwise be lost, if not to
reserve some crops specially grown
or ensilage. Ninth, the extensive use
f ensilage upon any farm is chiefly a
uestion of convenience and economy,
hitch local conditions must decide
Ve stern Rural.
-&s-A-