maturity is not complete until after that period. The farmer will soon learn to judge as to the best time for cutting, remembering always that immature corn usually results in sour silage, while fairly well matured fodder gives sweet, palatable feed. Where a large amount of silage is to be handled by a comparatively small force of men, it will be necessary to begin cut

ting rather early and continue until the crop is past the most desirable stage.

According to some Pennsylvania experiments corn rapidly increases in the total quantity of dry matter as it approaches maturity. These particular tests show that the total amount of digestible matter was much

greater when nearly mature than when cut earlier, and that the digestibility decreased at a slower rate than in the case of other forage crops. The total yield of digestible material, for instance, was thirty to thirty-six per cent greater when the crop was fairly well matured than at silking time. When the corn begins to get too dry, the silage may be greatly benefited by the addition of water, either to the cut corn as it comes out of the cutter, or to the material as it is deposited in the silo. Some Michigan farmers have been well satisfied with cutting their dry fodder direct from the shock, putting it into the silo and thoroughly moistening it. They claim that the material becomes succulent, and is a much more desirable stock feed than when fed as dry fodder. When corn has been frosted and allowed to dry out it can be made into silage. Fair feed results, although it is not so good as the green silage.

Placing corn in the silo usually increases the digestibility of the crude fiber. On the other hand, there is always some loss from fermentation and a slight decrease in the digestibility of other food elements. This partially offsets the benefit. Silage, however, is better than cured corn fodder, as field curing decreases the digestibility of many substances, particularly of the fiber. Numerous experiments show that the decrease in digestibility is about the same in some elements in field-cured fodder, but the digestibility of the fiber is greatly increased in silage and decreased in fodder.

Loading and Hauling-The modern corn binder is very satisfactory for cutting corn for the silo. Where only a small area is to be handled, say ten acres, the old-fashioned corn knife or some of the sled cutters answer very well. If the cutting is done by hand, the corn should be deposited in bunches so that it can be loaded easily on a wagon.

A low wagon is very essential for transporting the

green corn to the silage cutter. The one represented in Fig 37 has been used by the Wisconsin experiment station and by many practical farmers. The running gears of an old wagon may be utilized. The stringers are four by eight inches and eighteen or twenty feet long. They can be connected to the front axle and held in place by means of an elongated kingbolt provided with a nut and washer. From the back axle they are suspended by means of two three-fourthsinch bolts with washers below and hooks above. The wagon hounds are kept from tipping up by means of a short piece of two-inch oak board extending from

the kingbolt to the back standards. The floor is usually made of inch oak boards.

Cutting for Silo-Corn is conveyed to the machine and there cut into one-inch and one and one-halfinch lengths. Some feeders prefer one-half and threefourths-inch lengths, but these are liable to cause soreness of the mouth in cattle, particularly if the material is hard. The cut corn is elevated or blown into the silo. Care must be taken to have it evenly distributed. If a conical heap is allowed to form in the center, the heavier portions, such as the butts and pieces of ears, roll to the outside and the lighter portions remain in the middle. This results in an uneven distribution of the silage, which is very undesirable. Keep this heap raked down, or by means of a flexible tube of some

kind attached to the end of the carrier, direct the material to all parts of the silo. If this is carefully done, and it is tramped down compactly, the results will be most satisfactory. In many cases, in fact, in almost all, it is desirable to fill about half full, allow to settle for a day or two, then fill to the top, allow the silage to settle for several more days, then refill. This may be accomplished easily where two or more silos are being filled on the same farm. Work one or two days on one, then move to the other and work a day or two. Do the greater part of the tramping around the edge.

Covering-The matter of covering the silage is still in dispute. Some cover with hay or straw, others with some kind of cloth, still others with boards or straw, wet down well, while a few cut several loads of very green corn very fine, put on top and sprinkle with water. A mold soon develops and forms a dense mass which completely excludes the air. In many places no covering at all is used. The upper eight or ten inches molds and seals the silo, and in this way prevents the entrance of air.

Handling Stalks Uncut-In some neighborhoods corn is put into the silo without cutting. Those who practice this method claim that silage is sweeter and much more palatable, especially for horses, than when the stalk is cut. The ear, being left undisturbed in its husk, retains its natural flavor and aroma. Air gets into the interior of the stalk and ear when it is cut up into small pieces and more or less decomposition results. This is not so apparent when the stalk is preserved whole. The objection to the system is that it is more difficult to compact the whole corn so as to exclude all the air. As a consequence there is considerable more danger of loss. Another objection is the greater difficulty in handling the stalks when putting them into the silo and when they are to be taken out. This,

however, is largely overcome by cutting the corn with a binder and using a double harpoon fork for elevating and dropping into the silo. The green corn is loaded on the low wagons in sections so that the fork can handle it nicely. In taking the whole silage out for feeding the same apparatus is used, merely reversing the process.

Fig 38 shows how Mr Hodgson of Wisconsin places the bundles. When the silo is square they are placed at a, the dotted line representing the top of the silo. In a round silo the bundles are laid round and round as at b, and have this appearance when seen

from above. Mr Hodgson's round silo holds one hundred and thirty tons. He has stored whole corn in this manner for twelve years and is perfectly satisfied. He claims that it is sweeter and that his animals eat it more readily than when cut.

The cost of putting up silage will depend upon the distance from the field, the implements used, etc. As a general rule and with ordinary appliances silage can be put up for about forty cents per ton. Some farmers have done this work for twenty to twenty-five cents per ton and some have paid sixty to eighty cents.

The preserving of feed in the silo makes it possible not only to secure succulent forage in winter, when