can get a corner on Providence, and make it change its laws, I do not know what they can do about it.

A. G. Tuttle, Baraboo - I have seen that same thing in Michigan, that it does not reproduce pine after it is cut off. Where I was traveling I found an abundance of young pine, from a foot to two and three feet high, to stock the whole country, but it was agreed in Michigan that the timber that was produced after cutting off the pine was oak. Now, the way pine is being cut off and used up, if we have such winters as this, it will not be long before a large proportion of the pine will be destroyed; but still I believe there is more being destroyed by fire than by the axe.

ENSILAGE.

By Hon. I. C. SLOAN, Madison.

Ensilage" is a word recently imported into our language, and as a verb means to preserve green forage in a pit. Silo is the pit in which it is preserved. Ensilage as a noun means the for

age in its preserved condition. These words impart to the American mind a new idea, and signify a new method of preserving forage crops for the winter feeding of farm stock.

This method, in brief, consists in cutting fodder crops in an entirely green state into comparatively small particles, packing them in pits under a very considerable pressure, and thus preserving until the winter season, for feeding to farm stock of all kinds.

So far as we have information, this method of preserving green fodder, in its present improved condition, originated with Mr. Auguste Goffart, of France. He commenced experimenting in 1850, and has pursued his experiments with zeal and intelligence to the present time. In 1852 Goffart built the first silos of masonry of which I can find any account, but his purpose then was only to preserve the fodder for a short time, and they were usually emptied within three or four weeks after they were filled. It was not until 1872 that he had his first real success in preserving fodder for such length of time as he desired to keep it. That year he raised two hundred tons of green maize, which he packed

in his silos in October, and did not commence feeding it until the following March, when it was found to be in a perfect state of preservation, and so continued until it was all fed out.

The discoveries which he made that year, and which seem to have made the method a complete success, were that the fodder should be cut into very short pieces, not more than four-tenths of an inch in length, and that after placing it in the silos heavy weights of stone or other material should be placed upon the planks that covered the fodder, not less than one hundred pounds. to the square foot, to expel the air from the fodder and exclude the external air, as far as possible.

The value of Goffart's experiments was soon recognized in France, and in 1876 the French government, in recognition of the value of his discovery, bestowed upon him the decoration of the Legion of Honor.

It will be observed that this method of preserving fodder is of very recent origin, and so far as I know, was first put in practice in this country within the last two years, but has spread very rapidly, and a large number of silos have been built in the eastern states, from which farmers are now feeding their stock.

The process is a very simple one and can be readily understood and practiced by any intelligent farmer. The three conditions which seem to be necessary to success are: the exclusion of air to as great an extent as possible; the entire exclusion of water, and as little change in temperature as practicable.

Silos are built of some kind of masonry, stone, brick or concrete, pointed or plastered on the inside with water-lime cement, grouted on the bottom with the same material, so as to be entirely water tight. So far as the size and shape of the silos are con· cerned there seems to be practically no limit, except the need, the means, and the convenience of the builder.

Dr. Bailey, of Massachusetts, who has published a book on the subject, and has had silos in successful operation for the last two years, recommends that they be built double, each twelve feet deep, twelve feet wide and twenty-four to thirty feet long. These will have a capacity of from eighty to one hundred tons of fodder each. The compressed ensilage is said to weigh from forty-five

to forty-eight pounds per cubic foot.

The only advantage of

building them double seems to be that the center wall is the side of each silo, and dispenses with the cost of one side wall. They are roofed over with any material that will exclude water.

Silos are claimed to be most valuable for preserving green corn fodder, for the reason that a much larger crop in weight and feeding value of corn fodder can be raised than of any other forage crop now grown in this country, but all other green crops can be successfully preserved by this method.

The process of filling the silos and pressing down the fodder is very simple; it is cut either by hand or reaper when in proper condition, which is said to be with corn when in tassel, and with all other forage crops when in blossom, drawn directly to the silo (it makes no difference whether the weather is wet or dry), run through a horse-power cutter, cut not to exceed one-half inch in length (said to be better if only three-tenths of an inch), packed into the silo by two or more men who spread it evenly, and tread it down as compactly as possible as the cutting proceeds, until the silo is filled, which may occupy from three to ten days according to the quantity raised; a few inches of straw is then placed on the top, covered over with plank or boards fitting closely together, and cut such even length that they will settle down as the ensilage settles; the planks are weighted with stone or other heavy material, not less than one hundred pounds to the square foot. Experience shows that the ensilage will settle down about two and one-half feet to every ten feet in depth of the silo. The failure in preserving fodder by this method for any length of time at first seems to have resulted from not cutting it short enough, and not subjecting it to a sufficient pressure to expel the air it contained. and make it sufficiently compact, so as to prevent any air from penetrating it, as the oxygen of the atmosphere would soon cause fermentation and decay.

Fodder preserved by this method, it is claimed, will keep for any length of time, not only through the winter but through the summer also, if desired; some fermentation takes place, but not enough to injure its feeding value. Some of the more zealous advocates of the system claim that its nutritive qualities are very

considerably increased by the chemical change in its ingredients which is produced by the slight fermentation that takes place. When taken from the silo fermentation begins; first alcoholic, then acetic, lastly lactic, and it soon becomes putrid. It is said to be improved by leaving it in piles, after taken out, from eight to fifteen hours; its temperature is increased during that time, but if left more than thirty hours it becomes unfit as food for stock. That green fodder can be preserved in this manner has, I think, been proved by the practical experiments of farmers in this country, beyond all reasonable doubt.

If I am right in this, the only practical question remaining is, what is the feeding value of forage thus preserved, as compared with the cost of the silos and the expense of preserving and feeding it?

Without personal experience on this subject, I propose to present such facts as I have been able to gather from the agricultural publications of the day. That there should be a wide difference of opinion in relation to a method of feeding stock which has been in practice so short a time is to be expected, and it is undoubtedly the part of prudence to accept the evidence of its value with caution, and subject it to the severest scrutiny.

Among the most enthusiastic advocates of this system is Dr. Bailey, before referred to. He claims that from forty to seventyfive tons of green corn fodder can be produced on an acre of land, and the claim is put forth that even ninety tons have been produced. It is conceded, of course, that to produce these larger crops the land must be in the highest state of fertility, the largest growing corn must be planted, such as the southern horse-tooth, or what Dr. Bailey terms the mammoth ensilage corn, in drills from three to four feet apart, well cultivated, when it is said the stalks will grow from fourteen to eighteen feet high and weigh from four to nine pounds each. If it be possible to grow any. thing like such crops as these, it is evident the product per acre in feeding value must be very large, whatever its relative nutritive value may be.

He also claims that two tons of corn ensilage is equal to one ton of timothy bay for feeding purposes; and Goffart puts forth

the same claim, though he adds that the hay in his district is poor.

If there is any truth in this claim, the great value of ensilage is apparent, whatever may be the amount which can be grown to the acre. If we assume that two tons of timothy hay will keep a full grown animal of average size during the ordinary winter season in this climate, the smaller yield stated by Dr. Bailey, of forty tons per acre, would keep ten such animals during the winter, or five during the entire year.

Under date of November 11, 1880, James B. Brown, of New York, writes that corn fodder is in its highest perfection when in tassel; that the period of perfection does not last more than twelve days; that during this period the southern horse-tooth corn stalk is nearly as sweet as sugar cane in January; that it is best of all the ensilage, and that that is the only system by which this gi gantic, nutritious grass can be preserved in its perfection; that the system of ensilage, when generally adopted, will increase the capacity of the United States to support population ten fold; that from thirty to fifty cows can be kept where one only can be kept by pasture and meadow; that it ordinarily takes six acres of land to feed a cow a year, as they are at present fed; that a few fields in the state of New York have the past season borne ninety tons. of green corn stalks to the acre. It is proper to say that Mr. Brown translated Goffart's book into the English language; that he is actually feeding ensilage, and is more enthusiastic than even Dr. Bailey in its praise, but I believe his opinions should be received with a good deal of caution and allowance.

Under date of November 25, 1880, G. Morton, of Chittenden county, Vt., writes that he opened his silo a week previous; the preservation of its contents was perfect; that every animal on the place, even to the pigs, ate it greedily; that he filled one silo twenty-nine by twelve feet, and eight feet deep; that he has fifty tons of ensilage, and the whole cost of putting it in was $10. On the other hand, another correspondent signing E. W. S., Erie county, N. Y., dissents very materially from what he deems the extravagant claims of Dr. Bailey and Mr. Brown, above stated. He admits that corn fodder preserved by this system has great value,