The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-03
AS TO SILOS AND ENSILAGE.
Importance of the Right Degree OF

Importance of the Right Degree OF
Stalk Juciness.
BY way of emphasizing point often
overlooked by farmers on storing ensi-
lage, a contributor to the Country
Gentleman says: 1t would seem, after
thirty years of practice and discussion,
that the average farmer would be well
up in the theory and practice of the
silo. 1t is evident however, that such
is not the case, He seems to obey the
old proverb and not cross bridge until
he comes to it. So he makes no inquiry
as to the silo and its contents until a
sudden dearth of feed for his cows
brings the matter squarely before him
in a shape that he can neither evade
nor ignore.
One of the results Of drouth on the
growing corn is that it is less succu-
lent, and although it will make a brave
attempt to ripen its seed, it is done at
the expense of the rest of the plant if
there is dearth of water. The half
wilted appearance Of the corn during
the hot, dry days Of September shows
that part of the water has gone, and
this is also indicated by the rapid RI
pening of the lower leaves. The sue
cessful preservation of ensilage re-
quires that there shall be certain re-
lation between the quantity of dry mat
ter and water present in the corn. If
the corn is put into the silo in too
immature condition, the percentage of
water is in excess and there results an
acetic fermentation making the ensi-
lage sour. IF, on the other hand, the
corn is too dry, another kind of fermen-
tation takes place, and the heat in the
silo may become so great that the ensi-
lage may become charred, if not actu-
ally burnt after the manner of the fire.
fang in horse manure. Again, If the
heat in the silo is not very high, the
whole mass of enslage may mold, and
in this manner destroy it's feeding
value
IF the ensilage has been put in in an
immature condition, with too much wa
ter, there is nothing to be DONE but in
case the corn was too dry and there is
danger of mold or charring, something
may be done to rectify the trouble if it
is taken in time. In all such cases the
trouble is caused by a want of water in
the corn. When such corn is put into
the slo it should be thoroughly sprln-
sled with water. as it goes up the car
rier. The addition Of the water at this
stage will start the fermentation and
heating of the mass, and thus prevent
he formation of mold, which is a plant
'equiring low temperature in which to
flourish. If too little water is used,
here may be enough heat formed both
% prevent the formation OF mold and
llso cause a sufficiently high tempera-
ure to char or brown the ensilage. If
nough is added, the result will be a
airly good quality Of ensilage 1t is
lot so satisfac Glory to add the water
fter the dry corn is in the sllo, on ac-
cunt of the want Of evenness in the
vetting and the danger of having some
,arts too wet, while others are suffer
ng from the other extreme; but if an
examination of the ensilage by digging
nto the top layers a little way shows
hat no heat is forming, or that there |
8 too much heat and the enslage is |
then a generous quantity Of |
water spread evenly over the surface of |
he ensilage and allowed to run down
trough the mass, may be the means of |
aVing the contents of a silo in edible
and perhaps save the far
Ter from a decided loss when roughage
as scarce as at present. If water is
dded, watch the ensilage and see how
he action is going on, and act accord
Ugly.