The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-02-09

PRESERVATION OF GREEN FOOD
First Use Of Silos Took Place over a
Hundred Years Ago.


The preservation of green food in
silos commenced more than one hun
dred years ago. In 1856 Symonds
wrote of Italians preserving fresh
leaves for cattle in casks and pits in
the ground. In 1S43 Johnston, an
Englishman, published an article on
preserving green clover, grass, or vet.
ches in pits basing his statements on
observations made in Germany. Pits
about as deep, the sides lined with
wood, and a clay floor made. The
green stuff was placed in the pit, and
plenty of salt scattered over 1t from
time to time. When the pit was full,
the top was well salted and close.
fitting cover of boards was placed over
1t. Dirt to the depth Of foot or so
was thrown on the cover to exclude air
In few days, after the contents had
fermented and settled, the cover was
removed and more green fodder was
In commenting on the contents Of
such pit Johnston notes that the
grass when thus fermented had the
appearance of being boiled, had a
sharp acid taste, and was greedily
eaten by cattle.
In England, between 1860 and 1870,
Samuel Jonas stored tares or rye, cut
green and chopped, and fed the fer
mented material on an extensive
scale.
Adolph Reihlen sugar manufac-
nf orf ho IA u
stored the first green maize in pits.
He also preserved green beet leaves
and beet pulp in silos with much sue
cess. He had lived number of years
in the United States. and on his re.
turn to Germany experimental with
large dent corn, the seed Of which he
carried with him from this country.
AS the crop did not always mature IN
that climate, the green crop was pitted
after the manner of the beet refuse.
This work was conducted between
1860 and 1870. and the results were
published in the German and French
papers of the time. The use Of the
silo was strongly urged upon the peo-
pie of France, and considerable atten-
tion was given to the subject. Many
farmers built silos on the basis Of
Reihlen's experience. In 1877, A. Gof-
fart Of France wrote book on EN-
silage" which was translated into Eng
lish and published in New York year
or two later.
The first to prepare silage in the
United States were Manly Miles, Of
Michigan, who built two silos In 1875;
and Francis Morris. Of Maryland, who
commenced experiments in this line
in 1876. One of the earliest expert
menters with silage in the United
States was John M. McBryde, whose
investigations began al the University
of Tennessee in 1870. Several other
silos were also built by people in the
Eastern States within the next few
years. In 1882, in report on silage
by the United States Department of
Agriculture statements were publish
ed from 81 persons who had silos,
81 of which were in Atlantic seaboard
States. No doubt numerous others
were in use at that time.
At the present time the silo is
found on many thousands of farms in
the United States especially in dairy
regions, and it may be considered a
well-established feature in American
farm economy where stock feeding Is
practiced. In fact, the use of silage
for beef cattle is meeting with more
and more favor.
The first silos made in the United
States were of stone or brick. Tho
walls were thick,very strong, and were
covered with a smooth coat of ce-
ment on the inside. These were very
expensive; consequently wooden silos
were tried, and 1t was found that
very satisfactory results could be Sc
cured with these at much less cost
than with stone or brick silos.