VALUE OF ENSILAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20721, 14 November 1930, Page 4

VALUE OF ENSILAGE.

INCREASING SUPPLIES. EFFECTS OF NITROGEN. Last year showed a very marked increase in tho amount of ensilage saved, particularly in tlio North Island, although Hie practico of ensilage-making is slowly progressing in flic South. By cutting pastures for ensilage, farmers liavo found that they secure a feed which is invaluable for periods of pasturo scarcity, either in tho summer or winter, while, lit tho same lime, tho taking off of tho surplus grass early in tho year has a vory beneficial effect on the a'ftergrowth of tho pasture. In this connection it may he pointed out that experience shows that ensilage made from grass when fairly short is j much better than where tho crop is I allowed to maintain full growth before cutting. This also applies to tho making of hay. Now that ensilage-making is becoming :i standard practico, tho question farmers Firo asking is how to got the maximum ::rop from a given area. Last year quito i large number of farmers tried sulphate if ammonia, applied usually at tho time I he paddocks were shut up from stock, for ho purpose of increasing onsilago and lay crops. Not only was tho yield of cnsilago and iny increased, but it was possible to ■ut crops from three to four weeks earlier n tho spring by tho uso of this nitrojenous fertiliser. It was also possible o feed tho pasture from three to four veeks longer and still got splendid crops —both points farmers will appreciate. r urther, it was demonstratedthat tho ftermath growth on areas treated with ulphate of ammonia for ensilage and hay rops was very much superior to where his fertiliser was not used*