Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-03
Better Sllage.


The following statement, taken from .
1915 seed catalogue, advertising heavy
yielding, late-maturing variety OF siiage
corn, 10 interesting but misleading;
"What Is the proper time to cut ensi'
lape? As corn is simply overgrown
grass and everyone knows that grass
should be cut when 1t is in the blossom,
then corn should be cut when 1t 10 In the
same condition. Don't look for the ear
simply watch the tassel. 1t is better TO
cut corn too early than too late. Mature
ears should never be put In the siio. m Ine
grain bin is much better place. Inc
silo was not invented as SUBSTITUTE.
There is no doubt that statements SIM
liar to the above are responsible, In no
small way, for the following practices
which are go common: Cutting corn
for silage when it is just In tassel; .
Removing mature ears from corn har'
vested for silage; Planting corn for
silage thicker than for grain.
Numerous analyses show that the corn
plant increases very rapidly in total dry
matter and consequently In feeding
value, from the tasselipg stage to matur-
ity. Analyses of corn at different stages
of growth, as made by the New York
(Geneva) Station, illustrate this point.
When the corn is fully tasseled, 1t con-
tains but eight.tenths Of q ton of dry
matter Der acre. From the stage where
It Ia fully tasseled to where 1t Is fully
silked, a period of ten days, the dry mat
ter almost doubles. The increase from
the silking to the full milk stage, cover.
ing a period Of twelve days, is eight
tenths of ton. From the milk to the
glazing stage, a period Of only sixteen
days, the increase in dry matter is from
2 8 to 3.6 tons per acre. At the glazing
stage, the dry matter per acre 10 four
and One-half times as great as 1t is at
tasseling. This shows the great advan-
tape of letting the corn stand until the
kernels are glazed. After this period
the increase in dry matter is but slight.
To have the silage keep we'll the cord
must be cut at the proper stage OF ma
turity. If cut before the glazing stage
too much acid develops. If too ripe, un'
less water is added, 1t does not settle
properly and the air which is included
will cause it to spoil. In case part OF
the crop gets too ripe or has been frost
ed, It may be cut into the bottom OF the
silo. II the greener corn is cut on top,
the moisture from 1t and it's greater
weight will tend to cure the lower layers
into good silage.
The most nutritious silage is made
from corn cut at the glazing stage, with
the ears Oh. The ears are just as valu-
able cut in with the stalks as they are
pulled off and fed as corn meal or whole
corn. The labor of removing the ears
and feeding them separately Is not justi-
fed by any increase in milk flow. In
fact. Director Hills of the Vermont Sta
ton believes that the ears ensiled will
give better results than where they are
fed as corn and cob meal in conjunction
with silage made from the stalks alone.
Since ears add so much to the value OF
silage, their production should be en-
Corn for silage should be
planted at the same rate as corn TOR
grain in order that ears may be produc-
ed and that the most nutritious feeding
material may be obtained. Silage from
corn without ears will fill an animal up
but it will not produce as much milk as
silage with the ears in it. Such silage
also makes necessary the purchase of
more concentrates in order to secure q
ration, and one of the most
practical ways by which the New Hamp-
shire farmer can save the purchase of 80
much grain feed is by the production OF
more nutritious silage.
For the southern third Of the state
there is no better variety of corn for ST.
lage than Leaning; for the central part,
Sanford, N. II. 100. the Pride Of the
North are good; for the northern part
some of the larger and earlier flint va
rieties should be grown. The large
southern varieties, such as Eureka, Gu
ban Giant, and Early Mastodon, never
mature sufficiently in our state to make
good slage. In all parts of the state
The location of the field ss regards alti-
tude, exposure, and freedom from frost
will determine the variety which can be
grown to best advantage. The heaviest
yielding variety which will reach the
glazing stage is the one to grow.-By
Ford S. Prince, in New Hampshire Ex-
pertinent Station Press Bulletin 48.