PLANTS FOR ENSILAGE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 21 February 1931, Page 11

PLANTS FOR ENSILAGE

FFW UNSUITABLE SPECIES

Almo.'-t all kinds of herbaceous crops are capable of being made into good silage with the exception of those o: the brassica, a family of plants of the cabbage tribe, which are too succulent, give rise to obnoxious smelling sdage. and are generally unsuitnlhe. AlthoiTgh many crops can be concerted into silage, it does not follow (recently remarked an .English authority), that all are equally suitable.

An ideal crop for ensilage should satis!” the following conditions: (1) Tt should he easy and cheap to grow so that its cultivation does not interfere with that of otlidr more important crops, and in seedling and harvest

occur when other crops, do not require attention, .so much the better; (2) it should be a reliable crop, not subject co great variations in yield, so that fhe farmer can calculate with reasonable certainty upon his supply; (3) it should be easy to harvest capable of being cut with the grass mower, easily carted and quickly chaffed for rilling the silo, (4) it should be easily capable of reaching the required degree of maturity lor ensilage, since immature silage is liable to be sour; .») the silage produced should have a relatively high food value, should be digestible and contain a ruasomfibe itnount of albumoids; and (6) lastly, it, should provide time for weed destruction, either before sowing or after harvesting. j