The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-08-24


In other words, as much digestible
organic matter was produced by one
acre of corn as was secured from
almost two acres of beets.
Similar although very much less
striking results we're obtained at the
Maine State Experiment Station in a
comparison of several classes Of forage
crops, and involving in each case two
years work. At the Ontario Agri-
cultural Experiment Station silage
corn gave second highest yield OF
digestible material per acre as the
average of two seasons comparison Of
six types Of forage crops. Both of
these Experiment Stations are out of
the corn belt, and a less favorable
showing for corn was to be expected.
In the Pennsylvania experiments a
careful account of the cost of growing,
harvesting and storing the two crops
was kept with the following results :
Cost of one acre Of beets in pit $56.o7
Cost of one acre of corn in silo. aI.Ia
In 1890 the cost of one acre of beets
was 10000.
The Wisconsin Experiment Station
reports the cost Of one acre of sugar
beets from a two-acre field, without
charging rent Of land and using nc
fertilizers, at $3.50.
The Ohio Experiment Station grew
sugar beets at cost of $3I.36 per
acre in 1890, and S3S.S4 in 1891,
making no charge for fertilizers or
rent of land.
The average cost per acre of sugar
beets, when grown on a commercial
scale in California, as reported by
seven large growers, was $4S.S5.
At the United States Sugar Beet
Experiment Station, Schuyler, Neb.
raska, the cost per acre in 1892 was
$4o.78, exclusive of fertilizers and
rent.
In special cases these figures may
be considerably reduced for both
crops, but it is believed that the rela.
tons between them given above is
approximately correct for average
conditions.
In feeding trial involving two lot:
of five COWS each and covering three
periods of twelve days, 100 pounds o
digestible matter in the silage ration
produced I3L9s pounds of milk ant
7.aI pounds of butter, while an equa
amount of digestible dry matter il
the form of roots produced 1875
pounds of milk and 6.53 pounds o
butter-a difference in the butter pro
duced 1914 per cent. But when th'
two lots of COWS were fed alike on
combined ration of beets and silage
the silage lot produced, per Io'
pounds of digestible matter consumed
I5e pounds of milk and 6.79 pound
of butter, and the roots lot $50 pound
of milk and 6.46 pounds of butter
thus showing an apparent superiorit.
of the COWS constituting the silage lot
When this is taken account of it leave
a net gain in feeding value of tn
silage over the roots of 5 per cent
Similar results were obtained at thi
Station in 1890,
These results are also in accorC
with those of trials extending owe
four years, and involving in two ex
perimentS twelve COWS each, and il
two, sixteen COWS, at the Ohio Experi
ment Station. Below is given sum
mary of their results
Pounds OF milk produced per 100 pounds of DR.
matter consumed.
1899 1890 1891 ls9.
Beet ration 80 80 so 80
Silage ration 6l 60 B6 IS
The average of all Experiment.
points to the conclusion that, whe
compared upon the basis of digestibl'
matter, silage is at least as effectiv
as sugar beets or mangels for the pre-
duction of milk or butter.
The annual reports and quarterly bulletins
the Station Will be sent, free or charge, on al
plication, correspondence on agricultural sui
jects is desired.
Address,
II. p. ARMSBY, Director,