The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-10
Experience with Ensilase.

1t is gratifying to observe, saws the Plea
ytne, that interest in the ensilage system
for preserving feed for cattle is increasing
1t is obvious that this system is peculiarly
adapted to Florida, since it is difficult to
grow and cure meadow hay in our latitude,
while we can grow an immense amount
of coarse but nutritious forage, which, if
it can be preserved without curing, will fur
nish cattle feed in abundance. just here Is
where the silo comes to our relief. 1t is as
handy as the canning system of keeping
fruits and vegetables for human food. Both
require experience, and when the people
learn how to perform both operations prop
erly, there will be no lack of homegrown
food for man and beast at any season of the
year.
AS one example of experience with ensi-
lage in Florida, we quote the following COM
munication from the Florida Ag1icuLtur-
ist:
NV experience SO far teaches me that mil
let makes the best ensilage; common corn
will not do unless it is cut when very young.
Grass for ensilage can be cut at any time,
but think it is best to have it nearly ripe.
but in this as in everything else no fixed
rule can be given, and one must use some
discretion. Ensilage can be put up as well
in rainy as dry weather, which is a great
point in favor of the silo.
SO much for the grass. My plan Of max
ing the soil is as follows: Take fourteen
pieces of scantlng AKA inches and fourteen
feet long. Then lay the floor. This can be
done with trough edgen lumber, which an
swers all the purposes The joints should
be well broken, so IS to get good tight
floor, as this is important. / have failed by
rho apcitaoya fAT1f crrOnpA viii
a floor, that Is without boards under it. Set
the posts two to two and a half feet in the
ground and fasten them at the top with
strips nailed from one post to another; SO as
to make the frame square. Then board up
all the sides tightly with square edge lum-
Der, the boards edge to edge. Then I'LL the
sill with grass or mlllet and pack 1t well
while filling; 1t may be filled during weeks
time After it is full cover vito boards,
making the cover close and tight, so that
sand will not go through the cover. Put
eighteen inches of dirt on top. This can be
done by digging ditch around the siio and
using the dirt as weight. The ditch will
keep the water from under the ensilage.
Care should be taken to see that the top fol-
lows down and does not hang on the sizes or
ends.
1t will not be necessary to make the top
fit too closely, only close enough to prevent
the sand which is used as a weight from
sitting down.
The ensllage will get very hot and remain
so for months; mine did not cool off for
four months, but will do for feed any time
during the winter.
| began to feed from mine in December
and continued to use it until March. 1t was
good all winter; horses, mules and cattle
ate it rapidly, and as if they had always
been accustomed to it. | never saw stock
of any kind refuse it, and have often seen
them quit corn and fodder to eat ensilage
when it was offered to them. / fed 1t to
cows, but to no great extent. but am salts
fed that it would improve both the guam
tity and quality of milk.
Now the reason and common sense of this
plan is this: Just so far as the air can be
excluded by the weight on top of the silo,
just so far will the ensilage be good. Irefer
yol to the brick silos, and they say that
from eighteen to twenty-four inches of the
ensilage around the outside is not good.
This proves to me that the weight is the i'm
portant thing. Another point is to put
good cover over it, SO as to keep it perfectly
dry.
Mr. DuPass, at the experiment station at
Lake City, tried the experiment without a
floor, and made fine lot of fertilizer. do
not think it is essential to board up both
ends, as it is more convenient to leave one
open when filling. My object, when | COM
menced my experiments with the silo, was
to find something that would be within the
reach of all, and bid defiance to the rainy
season. Brick silos are within the reach of
but few, as you we'll know. | took sample
of my ensilage to Lake City and gave it to
Mr.. DuPass. He said that he compared 1t
to ensilage made in the brick silos near Talla-
hassee. and the comparison was very favor
able indeed for nv ensilage