STACK ENSILAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2997, 23 August 1911, Page 17

STACK ENSILAGE.

The Ruakura Experimental Station is doing good work in the north, not only in demonstrating how to turn out firstclass ensilage cheaply, but in growing and handling the crops which are best suited for this" purpose. As a good deal of the success of using ensilage depends on the proper manipulation of the stack right from the start, definite particulars aire here given as to its management. If successfully made, cows eat it voraciously, and maintain a good flow of milk when fed on it along with grass. For feeding in autumn and winter it is invaluable, or it will keep indefinitely till other crops fail. It may be cut early, and thus prevent weed seeds from ripening, and in this way keep the ground clean, or it may bo cut whenever there is an excess of feed on the farm which the stock do not require. The following hints in handling ensilage were issued, by the Department of Agriculture in Bulletin No. 4 (new series),, and were written by Mr W. Dibble, acting fields instructor : < • The cost of erecting silos is considerable; therefore it is recommended that in the first instance stack ensilage should be made. Stack ensilage is in favour, as all grasses oan be used —oven the rough growth near hedges and plantations may be' included, —though plants such as green oats, wheat, maize, vetches, peas, . etc., are far more valuab'e. To ensure success in making stack ensilage, the essential required is sufficient quantity to ensure heat, and also to avoid the great waste that occurs on the exposed surfaces of . small stacks —-that is to say, by making the-stack higher and thicker the proportion of loss is much smaller. The great advantage of making stack ensilage is that the stack may be built in any paddock, and at a point where it oan be most conveniently used for feeding purposes. The stack sho,-\ld be built on a level site. It should not be near the milking shed, as the milk may become tainted from the odour set up from the heating of the stacks. It should be nearly square, and the ordinary method of building reversed —the sides should bo 2ft higher than the centre, withthe slightest Jean inwards, and then well firmed. The idea in this is that the sides press out to a level with the centre when weight is applied. The least quantity that can be profitably preserved by stack ensilage is usually estimated at 25 tons. This, should be set out to cover a space of 14ft by 14ft. For from 50 to 60 ions a space of 25ft by 20ft would be " required. Tip-drays or sle'ghs, and a derrick or hoist for lifting the material on to the stack, are necessary. This derrick or hoist is decidedly conducive to economy. Cutting and stacking may be carried on in all weathers. In building a stack a first layer of from 6ft .to Bft should be carted to ensure the requisite heat, say, 130 deg. It will then be sufficient to add a layer of about 3ft each day. j Grasses or fodder plants for silage should be cut when they are in the most succulent stage, or when aipproaehing full bloom. Maize should be allowed to stand, until the grain-cob is formed. Crops for silage should not be allowed to wither in the sun, but carting and stacking should pro- i ceed as soon as possible after cutting. j To commence, out six swaths from the boundary fence. This will provide the j foundation for the 9tack. After clearing up this, the work can be laid out so that each day a sufficient quantity, and a quick run to the stack, will be provided. It is necessary to place a galvanised iron pipe in the centre, in which a thermometer is inserted, so that the temperature oan be ascertained. It must be remembered that the whole art of ensilage-making is the control of heat by pressure properly applied. The best silage is made by delaying the maximum pressure until the temperature has risen to between 120 deg and 150 dog. There are j two • kinds of ensilage —viz., green a,nd brown. For green ensilage the tempera- j tore required is from I2sdeg to 140 deg j Fahr.; for brown ensilage the tempera- j ture may be allowed to rise to 160d;eg. j Should a greater heat bo attained, the silage • would be of little value. If the temperature does r.ot reach 120 deg the product would be what is known as "sour" ensilage, which, though wholesome, is not usually considered so satisfactory as "sweet" silage, especially when intended for fodder for milking stock. A cubio foot of silage should weigh from 451 b to 56!b. l The completed stack should be topped by j a platform of rough timber provided with ; a ledge 20in deep around the edges. This should then be filled with earth lifted by the hoist from a trench around the stack. Other weighty material can, of course, • be used, but earth is usually preferable. The silage will be greatly improved by the addition of salt, in the proportion of ljlb to 1 ton of the green material. When the ensilage is required for use sufficient boards may be removed to allow space for the hay-knife. The remainder of the roof will be undisturbed. Green silage is relished by stock, even though good grass may be available. For maintaining a milk supply silage is invaluable. As the crop for ensilage-making is usually cut early in the season, weeds are removed before the seeds ripen. This assists in the maintenance of clean pastures. Ensilage costs to make about one-fourth more than hay. There is the compensa-

tion 4fs„r the ensilage-maker is independent of weather—rain cannot spoil it. As a milk-producor ensilage is immeasurably superior to hay.