The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-23
Ensiiage AS Fodder.

Grand Rapids Democrat: About thirty mem
hers of the Farmers Club. by invitation of NJ.
L. Sweet, visited his farm north of the city.
Mr. Sweet has been the pioneer in this section
to appreciate and utilize the plan of packing en-
silaee in sios for winter feed for stock, and the
members of the club were invited to inspect his
silo and to judge for Themselves OF the benefit
derived from its use. Mr.. Sweet owns famous
herd of Hosteins which has made an enviable
reputation for himself and his farm. He Is at
present feeding this herd entirely on ensilage
made from green orn-stAlks packed down In
air tight silos and tn. beneficial results of this
exclusive diet was very apparent TO those who
inspected the herd of 100 head.
The silos In question are sixteen feet square,
cost about $500 and are built together. The
Upon this 10 built superstructure Of wood very
heavy and alright The sides are OF heavy
flooring. fourteen feet above the foundations
and are built solid and secure TO eight inch
stndding. Inside the whole is lined with COW
ernG OF grooved and matched plank neatly fitted
and perfect lily air tight The interior measures
lesio122 ;oas and !: filled s.osy with the s
August The fodder settles. and when
used weighs about fifty pounds TO the cubic
pounds of fodder in each sllo. This is an enor-
nous amount of feed, but $50 head OF fine. fat
cattle eat their way into stack like buzz-saw.
When the cattle are fed the ensilase Is taken
armful given each one. The air tight slo pre-
serves the tenderness Of the fodder to great
extent. and the cattle eat even the large stalks
more nutritious and pnlatable than dry fodder
for the Same reason that green grass ID moro
healthy than hay.
ST.. Fuller opened the discussion upon the
best way to pack down ensiage. He has had
some experience With a sslo on his own farm.
which had been very satisfactory. Ensiagc
was the most economical winter feed obtainAbl-,
as we'll ms the most healthy and nutritious. Mr..
Fuller had raised thirty tons OF corn on single
acre, which he had packed IN silo and used
during tho winter NJ he needed 10. This thirty
tons OF corn fodder was equal 60 ten tons Of hay
thus making fodder many times cheaper than
hay. for loss than two tens OF hay 10 customary
crop for an acre.
W. w. johnson said, speaking Of his experience
In raising ~nsiiage: 81 plant twenty TO forty
kernels 10 the foot IN drills. l get more value
think, from planting In this way for corn fod'
der. II drill usually put the rows four feet
anart. and nearer w not As well. don't know
inst how much wafer feed when feed ensil0ge,
but think that ensilage, though IL 10 made up
OF large proporiion OF water 1t IL none tho less
nutritious. Green grass II nearly all water"
Mr. Fulkerson, of CAsnoviai II visited Mr.
Clay's farm ut Newaygo last fall He took 800
of his poorest cattle 10 one farm and fed them
there for ak weeks on ensilage. / visited IL
again and the cattle were gaining As Mr.. Clay
got down into the silo the cattle gained more no
said. The feed got better the further down IL
feed, but this practical experiment. pleased and
encouraged me, and intend to profit by 10 II
can learn just how TO make them for the
best results. The dairy woman nv farm
also praised the feed for milch cows There Is
much land about the country that won't raise
grass that will do for good feed but almost any
land will raise corn, which in this way can be
turned into better food than hay. Mr.. Clay's
silo was built very cheaply. but was perfect
success.n