1 Solids in ensilage as fed 20.82 per cent.
Water in fodder as fed 44.15 per cent.
Solids in fodder as fed 55.85 per cent.
From this it will be found that there was fed 932.37 pounds of dry matter in the corn fodder and 942.86 pounds of dry matter in the ensilage. Ignoring the grain fed, we have as the value of the dry matter the following : 16.11 lbs. dry matter in corn fodder=1 lb. butter. 15,69 lbs. dry matter in ensilage=1 lb. butter., It will be noted that practically equal results were obtained with fodder corn and ensilage in this case. The results, it is true, are slightly in favor of ensilage, but the difference falls within what is styled in the laboratory, "the limits of error." The fall of 1886 was with us, says Pro fessor Henry, on the whole the most favorable for curing fodder we had seen since coming into the State seven years ago. The fodder, when dried, was taken to the barn and reshocked on an upper floor. As it had not suffered in the least from storms before being taken to the barn, it may be said to have been in perfect condition. While this is just as it-should have been for ex perimental work, it is quite different in practice. Had we compared ensilage with fodder corn brought from the field in winter with many of the leaves blackened by rains and the stalks full of frozen moisture, we would not have been able to show such excellent results for fodder as we have done in this case. Coming now to the Simplifying results, we have 1,690 lbs. corn fodder plus 360 lbs. bran and corn meal equal 1,234 lbs., 11 oz. milk, equal 57 lbs., 14 oz. butter.
1,550 lbs. ensilage plus 360 lbs. bran and corn meal equal 1,282 lbs., 6 oz. milk, equal 60 lbs., 1 oz. butter.
Excess in favor of ensilage, 37 lbs., 11 oz. milk, 2 lbs. 3 oz. butter.
This shows there was obtained about 3 per cent. more milk and butter by feeding ensilage than from feeding the same material in the shape of corn fodder, cut fine With the feed cutter ; 21.3 pounds of milk from ensilage, and 21.7 proper filling of the silo, it used to be the plan to fill quickly, tramping as hard as possible. The plan now generally adopted in the West,.is to fill so slowly that the temperature of the material reaches 130° to 140°, and to so fill that the temp erature is kept at this point until the silo is full. Thus bacterial germs are killed, the air is pressed out, and heat and vapor take the place of air. The silo then being filled and properly weighted, after covering with boards, tarred paper and leaves or sawdust to exclude air, the silo may be considered safe until wanted for use. There are various patented devices for accomplishing the exclusion of air and governing temperature. The matter here given will, we think, practically cover essentials, economically considered. We have already spoken of stacked green crops, as practiced in England. It is not there considered the best way of making ensilage, nevertheless the results show conclusively the value of this sys tem there, and of course the profit would be far greater where the ensilage could be more per fectly saved. Leaving out the carefully tabul ated elaboration of the whole matter, and this in cludes milk fed to young calves, for the animal was fed during the whole life of the individual, including the fattening as the Ensil age Press Company of England, the conclusions are as stated, the money value being English coin—as follows : " The silage used consisted chiefly of what is commonly called the sweet, green sort, made by cutting the crop young, and keeping the temperature of the stack between 130° and 140° Fahr. The temperature can be regulated
by means of pressure. The experiment began when the calf was from four to five months old ; and during the time he was having milk, three other calves were reared with him, and the quan tity of new milk allowed for in the estimate is probably rather in excess of the quantity actually given. The amount of silage allowed for as con sumed is in every case the amount weighed for a week together at the end of each period. For instance, the twenty-eight pounds given as being the amount consumed during the first three months is what it was found he was eating at the time he wassix months old. The amount of cake may be taken as what was actually consumed by the steer. The amount allowed for labor and bed ding is only an estimate, but considering that the silage was given whole and merely shaken up when taken from the stack, 6d per week would be sufficient to cover this expense. The same with the bedding if moss litter is used. How much shOuld be charged to the steer, and how much allowed for manure, is an open question. If the moss litter is capable of absorbing) moist ure to the extent of nine times its own weight, which is claimed for it, then one-third to the steer and two-thirds to the manure would be about the right proportion ; but in this, as well as in the case of the milk and silage, the steer is debited with the maximum amount,viz.: one-half the cost of the moss litter. In arriving at the consuming value of the silage per ton, the calcu lation is based on the value of a green crop being lOs per ton to sell Off, or Is 6d per ton its con suming price. To this must be added 20 per cent. for loss by fermentation and waste. When the temperature of the stack is kept below 140°, 10 or 12 per cent, is probably sufficient to allow for loss under this head ; and if a stack is well built and pioperly weighted, the loss by waste should not exceed 5 per cent This experiment goes a long way towards, if it does not conclu sively prove, that silage, when properly made, is very healthy food, and may be used m the same manner and as freely as grass or clover in their natural green condition. The steer was never out of health, 'nor was ever known to re fuse his food ; and on being slaughtered, all the internal organs were found to be in a most healthy state. Certainly this experiment proves that the best quality of beef can be produced by Means of silage, without hay or turnips. The analysis of the milk was much in favor of en silage, and sho\vs that silage produces exactly the same quality of milk as grass does in the summer time. And also show such a great re duction in the cost of keeping during the winter months, that the conclusions drawn were that the ensilage system must very shortly revolution ize dairy farming in the country."