The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-06-10
No. l8


better results than the scientists show.
BERMUDA GRASS
[ have never seen an analysis of
green Bermuda grass. The analysis of
the hay is very fine. It is the finest
hay outside of clover or pea-vines of
any other hay. I think it has per
cent. of protein. No other hay that
remember has over four or five per
cent. But Bermuda pasturage even
when supplemented with sorghum is
not as good in my experience as corn
ensilage.
We have for the last two years
MIXED about fifty COWS. We feed
them in the winter months ensilage,
straw, and pea vines. In the summer
they run on the Bermuda pasture and
have the sorghum. We keep a record
of all our milk, and know what each
COW gives, and the difference between
the results for the last two winters
and the last 2 summers is very marked.
They go in the barn about the 1st of
November and stay there day and
night until about the 1st of May. They
receive the ensilage and then in the
summer time they go to the pasture
and receive the Bermuda and the sor-
ghum. When they went to the pasture
last year, they were averaging to the
herd about seventeen and a half
pounds of milk a day, but when they
went back in the barn in the following
November, they were giving about
twelve pounds. This last spring they
went to the pasture giving about eigh-
teen pounds a day We have not put
them in the barn yet, but they are Civ
ing slightly more than twelve pounds
now. A part of this 40 per cent. diff
ference is due no doubt to other
causes, such as working for their liv-
ing in the hot summer months and liv-
ing quietly in the stall in winter, but
a good portion of it am sure, is due
to the superiority of ensilage.
| MANY QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
The following questions were asked
Mr.. Williamson:
I Question: Can you make good en-
silage out of pea vines?
Answer: Yes, sir; very good, but
corn is best.
Question: What is the effect of cot
ton-seed meal on the butter?
Answer: Too much damages the
butter.
Question: About how much ought
cow to have not to hurt the butter?
Answer: She should have four or
five pounds day and not hurt the but
ter.
Question: Don't you think the sor-
ghum is a little better feed than corn,
before the corn is put up in the silo9
Answer: / 30 not. When we are
cutting ensiiage, we quit cutting cur
sorghum for the time and feed the
fresh cut ensilage corn. Our rule has
Dcen to bring IN o load of sorahum and
feed it to the COWS right fresh, bu5
when changing to the easilage corn
The milk yield invariably increases,
and just as surely goes back again
when they are put back Oh the soF-
gbum.
Question: In what stage do you cuE
yrur corn?
Answer: It ought to be pretty well
1natured. prefer that it he some
what beyond IL" n asting aar stage
With an occasional: ear getting dry and
harl.
Question: In what stage do you cat
your sorghum?
Answer: Ia ary stage when we nce,l
it a!ter it gets large enough but no
doubt it is best just when it reaches
maturity.
Question: What kind of silo have
you?
Answer: Ours is square, but l very
much prefer a round or circular one.
Question: You say you keep your
COWS in the barn?
Answer: Yes, sir; from November
to May. Our stalls are three feet
wide, and we can make the length fit
the cow, as the manger is adjustable,
and can be so placed that the cow
stands exactly on edge of gutter. We
have got sixty-fve stalls, and they are
generally nearly full. / have no idea
that there is one cow in five hundred
that gets soiled in that way. They keen
clean uuhether Won have bedding under