The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-05-26

so doing he will be enabled to double
| the number of his stock, without in.
| creasing the size of his farm. If Won
double the stock you double the
quantity of manure, and if you double
| the quantity of manure you will as
suredly increase the fertility of the
soil and if you increase the fer
tility of the soil you will most
undoubtedly increase the quantity
of all your crops. The time has
arrived when the farmer must dis
pense with purchasing from $50
to 300 worth of fertilizer yearly.
| but must manufacture his wv fertili-
zers in the form of farm-yard manure
That is why ensilage pays.
For ensilage, green corn-stalks and
| aIl-are cut off after the milk has dried
up, and just about the time the a is
glazing, 1t is taken at once to the barn,
OF silo, and cut into pieces from one
half to three-fOurths inches long, with
a fodder or ensilage cutter, and put
Immediately into an air-tight pit or
building, called a silO. Whilst filling
the silo, a man is required to tread it,
making it a solid, compact mass, so as
to exclude all the air. After the silO is
filled it is covered with cut straw
about one foot thick. Some persons
prefer putting heavy weights upon it,
| but experience has shown that it is an
unnecessary expense. This can be
preserved in good condition for twelve
months or longer. Preserved thus in
it's natural state, it contains all the
rich, s~ucculent juices, and possesses a
value for feeding both stock and milk
COWS, which far surpasses any other
winter food you can obtain. This
~succuIent food is like the rich pasture
of summer, for in fact we are turning
winter into summer, in the manner Of
feeding our stock. It produces an
| appetite, is very easily digested and
by the process of assimilation is con
verified into a nutritive food that is
perfectly adapted to the needs of
animals.
Ensilage being more digestible than
dried food, makes the cattle look more
sleek, the eyes become brighter, and
they fatten more rapidly; milk COWS
will yield nor and better milk and
the butter will have the rich, grassy
flavor that is impaired to it in sum
mer.
It is on the same principle, and for
the same reasons, that cattle fed on
ensilage or preserved green food, which
is the same thing, will always surpass
in appearance and condition stock fed
on dry food. This food not only pos
sesses fattening qualities, but also con
tains health giving properties, which
is a very valuable consideration iii
food. This is the second reason why
ensilage pays.
1t is exactly adapted to the wants of
the cattle and being more easily di-
gested than dry food, they will grow
more rapidly, fatten better, be healthier
and the COWS will yield more milk and
butter than is possible under the old
system Of dry feeding. That is the
third reason why ensilage pays. If
ensilage is properly secured and pre-
served, stock of all kinds will prefer it
to other food. The cattle like it, and
more than all, they know what is good
for them. That is the fourth reason
why ensilage pays.
Again, how often we experience
severe .drOughts, which are always a
serious obstacle to successful farming.
The scOrching rays of the sun soon
wither the blades of grass, the earth
becomes parched, and there is no
pasture for the cattle. Under the old
system Of farming there is no redress,
but every farmer must suffer a great
loss in the condition of his stock and
the diminished quantity of milk and
butter that the COWS T accustomed
to yield. Just at this time the silo,
with its rich succulent ensilage, comes
to the rescue, and the farmer is pre-
pared for the emergency, for ensiiege
furnishes not only a cheaper food than
pasture, but is an almost indispensable
necessity. That farmer is indeed a
fortunate man who has an abundance
of ensilage for his stock when the
severe droughts of summer prevail.
That is the fifth reason why ensiIage
pays.
Now for a few testimonials as to the
value of ensilage from actual pX-
.perience. Chas. E. Ball, of Erie. Pa,
says: In one week from the time |
began feeding ensilage instead of hay
and dry fodder the afternoons milk
increased from sixty to ninety quarts,
an increase of thirty quarts, with a
propOrtionate increase of mornings
milk"
Elk Governor, Gregory Smith, of Yer
mont, says: After years of careful
experimenting l know that | can save
from 40 to 60 per cent. of cost of keep
ing my stock by feeding ensilage.
Col. Legrand Cannon, Of Vermont.
says: my profits from ensilace in
cost OF feeding and increase of products
0YvnT tho old VTyorr - ~ I 49, z- UTIIs