New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-05-30
HE MAKING AND FEEDING
OF SILAGE

Washington, ID. g., May To-
lace during the last three
pcades has come into general use
broughout the United States,
snecially in those regions where
q dairy industry has reached
greatest development. Silage
universally recognized as a
I bod and cheap feed for farm
ock. and particularly so for
i pttle and sheep, are the obser-
h atoms made in Farmers Bulle-
4 - 57s of the United States De-
3 artment of Agriculture.
SiIage is the best and cheapest
nrm in which succulent feed can
nrovided for winter use, con-
nues the bulletin. An acre OF
rain can be placed in the silo at
cost not exceeding that OF
hooking, husking, grinding and
bredding. Crops can be put IN
10 silo during weather than can
i ~ be used in making hay or
y ,lring fodder which is an I'M
4 ortant consideration in some 10.
Z a1ities. :,
A oiven amount Of corn III the
,rm of silage viii produce more
nix than the same amount when
D hooked and dried. There rs less
,asto in feeding silage than IN
d epding fodder. Good silage
. roperly fed is all consumed, and
addition very palatable. Like
/ ther succulent feeds it has a
! eneficial effect upon the diges
i've organs and some stock can
kept on given area of land
ghen it is the basis Of the ra-
ion.
On account of the smaller cost
or labor, silage can be used for
upplementing pastures more
economically than can soillng
rops. unless only small amount
f supplementary feed is re-
3 uired Converting the corn crop
nto siIage clears the land sooner
han if the corn crop is shocked
nd husked, and because of these
dvantages. silage, in the general
opinion Of dairy farmers has IN
reased milk production per cow
md has increased the profits per
I ere. 8
Corn. q
In all parts of the United States
I where the silo has come into gen
Eral use the principal silage crop
S corn. One reason for this IS
that ordinarily corn will produce
more food material to the acre
) Than any other crop which can be
GROWN. 1t is more easily harvest
Ed and put into the silo than any
bf the hay crops, such as clover,
1 eowpeas, or alfalfa.
Furthermore, corn makes an
EXCELLENT quality of silage. The
T. egumes, such as clover and al
Ealfa, are liable to rot unless
pecaal care is taken to pack the
bllage thoroughly and force the
hir out. The only objection which
T. has been raised concerning corn
6ilsge is the fact that it contains
Insufficient protein fully to meet
The requirements of animals to
which 1T may be fed. The best
Variety of corn to plant Is that
which will mature and yield the
largest amount Of grain to the
acre, Hinoe the grain is the most
valuable part sf the scorn plant.
The variety commonly raised in
bny particular locality for grain
will also be the most satisfactory
to grow for 'silage..
Cultivation and yield.
In some sections it is common
practice to plant the corn a little
thicker when rasied for silage
than for grain. Weeds should be
kept out, or they Will be cut with
the corn and may impair the
QUALITY of the ;s7lage. The amount
|of silage that can be obtained
from an acre Of corn will vary
from 4 to 20 tons or more. A
P0-bushel per acre crop OF corn
will yield about 8 to IL tons OF
|silage per acre, depending upon
the amount Of foliage and stalk
THAT accompanies the ear. South
ern varieties of corn as rule
carry a larger proportion Of the
plant in the form Of stalk and
leaves than do the northern
grown varieties. Corn should
be harvested for the silo at about
the same time that it is harvested
for fodder. -,,--1
Clover.
Clover can be used successful
y H. nc~,> vso11inO a