ENSILAGE AS FODDER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 514, 25 June 1897, Page 4

ENSILAGE AS FODDER.

The practice of substituting ensilage for grass or hay has been and is I followed with good results by fari mors in other districts, and it is a ' matter of surprise that it is not also i followed in this district to the extent : its merits deserve. Ensilage can he made from any kind of green growth, | and as for the purposes of tho operation, which is an extremely simple one, the crop is brought in | from the field at once, no great risk I is run as to loss, nor built silos necessary for the preparation of the ! product. The crop must he brought in before it gets wet, but there is no reason why it should not he carted | away as it is cut, and opportunities i often occur for doing this during bowery weather when there is not a sufficient spell of fine days to make bay. When a silo is not available, wires map be drawn over the top of tho stack and strained so as to bring a great pressure on the green stuff, and where a terrace is at hand a S' In can easily lie dug out therein, and the necessary weight applied by | loading with roofing iron covered with earth or gravel. A suitable moans of straining would ho the ordinary Spanish fencing windlass on a slightly increased scale, sons to accommodate a lever about six feet in length. The product thus manufactured is far in advance of hay fer fodder purposes for cattle, and '■ peeially cows in milk. A high aroma, not altogether delightful, is expeneuocd Iroin tlio exudation of the liquid matter of tho green vegetation, hut this is atpply compensated for by the superior quality of product when matured for use. Our farmers would do well under the circumstances to study the value of ensilage.