Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-01-05
FROM THE PEOPLE
MellilOtns EqaGl to Corn fOrS SilGge
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S. 1915

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S. 1918.
Mr. 1. B. Warren,
Noxubee Stock Farm, Macon. Miss.
Dear Sir: Your letter OF December
18th, addr essed to Mr.. Westgate in re-
gard to sweet clover ensilage, has been
referred to me for reply.
Sweet clover has been given, a trial
for ensilage in several sections of the
country, and especially SO In northern
Illinois. Excellent results have been
obtained by putting sweet clover in the
silo and chemical analysis show that
the sweet clover silage contains as
much food value as corn silage. Sweet
clover may be ensiled in very good
condition if care is taken In handling
the crop.
We have fonnd that poss bly, the best
stage to cut the plants for ensiling is
at the time they are ordinarily cut for
hay. The ordinary grain binder is per-
haps the best implement to use in cut
ting sweet clover for silage. as the
Dulhiles can be run through the silo
cutie, with but little trouble. A good
stand of sweet clover, approximately
80 inches high, will produce about six
tons of silage to the acre. Several peo.
pie have permitted their fields of sweet
clover to come into full bloom before
cutting for silage. When this is done,
approximately ten tons of silage is ob-
tained to the acre. but. the plants are
usually killed, 60 that the seed crop Is
lost. Excellent results have been OBJ
tained by ensiling the crop the year OF
seeding.
Sweet clover contains too much juice
If run into the silo as soon as cut. In
fact. barrels of juice have been pressed
from the bottom of the silo when this
was done. A considerable quantity Of
food is lost in the juice. This may be
partially or entirely avoided by per-
mitting the plants to remain in the
field until they are thoroughly wilted
or just before the leaves have begun
to cure. Much Of the surplus water
will evaporate from the plants, bnt
there will be sufficient left in them SO
that they will ensile in good condition.
When there is too much moisture in
the sweet clover to ensile properly, it
is good plan to mix a little corn
stover or straw with it as il is being
run into the silo One man put load
of straw in the bottom of his silo with
excellent results. as part of the juice
which was pressed from the sweet
cIoyer was absorbed by the straw and
the stock ate the straw readily. Sweet
clover, when properly ensiled. does not
become Shiny. and while it may have a
rather strong odor. no cases of taint-
ing of the milk have been noted. Stock
eat the Stage very well.
Several silos have been filled with
'eet clover straw in Illinois and most
excellent results have been obtained
from feeding sweet clover straw silage.
Sufficient water must be run into the
silo to soak up the stem; but when
this is done the stems readily become
soft ond ensile well. When the sweet
clover straw is run into the silo, in ad-
dition to sweet clover straw silage, a
seed crop is obtained.
l wish to state that the use of sweet |
clover as a silage plant is yet in the ex-
perimental stage; but the few silos
which we have carefully checked up,
show that sweet clover is al excellent
silage plant and may be extensively
used for this purpose. Several farmers
have filled silos with a mixture of
sweet clover and corn, alternating load
for load as it is run into the silo. /
personally inspected one silo filled in
fhis manner, and / can assure you it
Arade an excellent grade of silage.
Which was relished by stock.
can not give you the weight of 81
'age Of sweet clover and corn per cubic
Goot; but I believe sweet clover silage |
ould weigh more than the corn, as it
more compact.
II assure you that shall be glad to
nsver any other questions and to keep4
IN touch with you in case you ensile any
sweet clover.
l am wondering il you have anyeMis-
assippi hulled white sweet clover seed
for'sale or il you know Of any one who
has. am desirous Of purchasing one
bushel Of hulled white sweet clover
seed for experimental purposes that
was grown in Mississippi. If you have
any seed or know Of any one who has,
I shall be glad to have q sample SUBJ
nii;ted and the price for so pounds as
sooh,as possible.
Very truly yours,
Scientific Assistant Clover Inyestiga-
tions. --