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 Session 1884. 
 
 26 
 
 4 N 
 
 A LECTURE 
 
 ENSILAGE: 
 
 ITS INFLUENCE UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 DELIVERED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF 
 
 H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, 
 
 AT THE 
 
 SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM, 
 
 BV 
 
 HENRY WOODS. 
 
 R 
 
 ENLARGED AND REVISED , WITH APPENDICES AND 
 TABLES OP ANALYSES. 
 
6357 / 
 
 VVu - £ 
 
 i 
 
 VO%c 
 
 LONDON : PRINTED BY 
 
 SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE 
 AND PARLIAMENT STREET 
 
U SSr°euS? 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 This little work contains, in a revised and enlarged form, 
 with appendices &c., the lecture on the practical utility of 
 the Ensilage system and possible advantages from introducing 
 it into British farming, which I had the great honour of 
 delivering before His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, a 
 numerous and distinguished assembly of ladies, noblemen, 
 and gentlemen, and the students of the Institute of Agri- 
 culture, at South Kensington Museum, on the evening of 
 Monday, March 17. I trust the publication will not be 
 thought to call for any apology. If it should, I must plead 
 the importance of the subject, and the hope I have that 
 the facts recorded in these pages will be of service and value 
 to some, at least, of those for whose benefit they are chiefly 
 intended. 
 
 Henry Woods. 
 
 Merton : March 1884. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 ADVANCE OF SYSTEM 
 
 ACTION OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 
 
 IMPORTANCE TO THE FARMER 
 
 FRUIT, OR MILK AND MEAT ? 
 
 ENSILAGE SUITED TO VARIED SOILS 
 
 WHAT THE SILO WILL DO, AND WHAT IT WILL NOT DO 
 
 INEXPENSIVENESS OF SILOS 
 
 IMPROVEMENTS IN SILO-PRACTICE 
 
 SUPER-SILOS — NO RE-OPENING OR RE-FILLING 
 
 SALTING 
 
 SILO-COVERING 
 
 WEIGHTING— MECHANICAL APPLIANCES . 
 
 RAMMING 
 
 LONG ENSILAGE 
 
 CARTING 
 
 CROPS FOR ENSILAGE 
 
 ENSILED GRASS V. HAY 
 
 ENSILED ‘ BRANK ’ OR BUCKWHEAT V. HARVESTED BRANK 
 ENSILED OATS V . HARVESTED OATS .... 
 SPURREY, AN ENSILAGE-PLANT FOR LIGHT SANDY SOILS. 
 COST OF CULTIVATING AND ENSILING SPURREY . 
 
 QUALITY OF THE ENSILED SPURREY .... 
 
 ENSILED MAIZE 
 
 ENSILED MAIZE V. SWEDES 
 
 RESULTS OF ANALYSES 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 io 
 
 1 1 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 1 3 
 
 14 
 
 14 
 
 16 
 
 1 7 
 
 18 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 *9 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 21 
 
 25 
 
 26 
 
 26 
 
 28 
 
 28 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 RESULTS IN FEEDING 30 
 
 ENSILED MAIZE AND SWEDES— COMPARATIVE TEST WITH COWS . 31 
 
 ENSILAGE-FED SHEEP 33 
 
 THE MERTON EWES 34 
 
 HORSES 35 
 
 CASK-MADE ENSILAGE 35 
 
 CONCLUSION 36 
 
 VOTES OF THANKS 37 
 
 APPENDICES 39 
 
THE LECTURE. 
 
 May it please your Royal Highness, my Lords, Ladies, and 
 Gentlemen : — 
 
 The title of our lecture ‘Ensilage — Its Influence upon British 
 Agriculture,’ pre-supposes, on the part of the distinguished assembly 
 which I have the honour and privilege of addressing, some ac- 
 quaintance with the Silo-process — that method of storage by means 
 of which green crops are preserved and converted into the cattle 
 food called Ensilage. Many books have been published on the 
 system, and from time to time our agricultural journals have described 
 at length the opening of Silos in various parts of the Kingdom, and 
 recorded the results of Ensilage experiments, simple and elaborate. 
 
 ‘ Never prophesy unless you know ’ is a maxim for which I have 
 great respect. It was present to my mind twelve or fourteen months 
 ago when, in closing a lecture to the Wayland Agricultural Associa- 
 tion on the ‘ Origin, History, and Practice of Ensilage,’ I ventured to 
 predict that the Silo was destined to become an important factor in 
 the practice of British agriculture — a source of relief and profit to 
 the distressed and almost distracted farmer. Yet, whatever some 
 persons may have thought, there was nothing rash or reckless in this 
 forecast ; founded as it was on the data of several experiments con- 
 ducted at Merton, at the instance of Lord Walsingham. This even- 
 ing I repeat the prediction with still stronger emphasis, and will lay 
 before you, as concisely as possible, the evidence on which I rely in 
 support of my conclusion. 
 
 ADVANCE OF SYSTEM. 
 
 North, south, east, and west, in Ireland and Scotland, as well as 
 in our own Kingdom, the system has gained ground, and Silos have 
 been greatly multiplied, in the past year. 
 
 At the close of last year I issued a circular letter with a number 
 
ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 of questions addressed to leading agriculturists in the three King- 
 doms, and the returns with which many have favoured me are ex- 
 ceedingly interesting and valuable. They give detailed information 
 as to the size and character of various Silos, the different methods of 
 storing and preserving now in use, and the results so far secured ; 
 thus affording a basis for useful comparison. 
 
 It is not more than four or five years since the Silo experiments 
 prosecuted in America first began to attract attention in our own 
 country. At that time Silo and Ensilage were terms almost, if not 
 altogether, unknown to us. They were certainly not in the least 
 understood. Notwithstanding the natural sluggishness with which 
 we are credited, we have considerably advanced in knowledge. 
 These terms are now as familiar to us as household words, and the 
 ensiling of green fodder crops is no longer a tentative but an estab- 
 lished practice amongst us. 
 
 Let me here observe that in this lecture I do not intend to use 
 the word ‘ ensilage ’ as a verb ; but will adopt ensile as preferable, 
 perhaps more correct, and certainly more convenient. 
 
 ACTION OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 No fact in this movement is more noteworthy than the prompt 
 manner in which much early prejudice has been overcome. Active 
 opposition, too, is now fast disappearing. 
 
 At the outset of the controversy we naturally looked for ‘ light 
 and leading ’ to the Royal Agricultural Society. I ventured more 
 than twelve months ago to suggest that this was a matter in which 
 the Council of that Society might render great public service. 
 
 It will have been observed with satisfaction that an inquiry was 
 conducted a few months ago, on behalf of the Society, by its Secre- 
 tary, Mr. H. M. Jenkins. That gentleman, in his tour of inspection, 
 visited many Silos in different parts of the kingdom. He has 
 probably collected a fund of useful, interesting, but, above all, I 
 hope, practical information. Should this be published, some service 
 may yet be rendered in dissipating lingering doubts and converting, 
 perhaps, a few more or less influential sceptics. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 9 
 
 IMPORTANCE TO THE FARMER. 
 
 The national importance of introducing the Silo into the agri- 
 cultural system of Great Britain cannot be too much insisted upon 
 when we consider the conditions under which farming is, and pro- 
 bably will be for the future, carried on here. 
 
 It is not the least likely that the cultivation of wheat will be 
 remunerative to the present or even to the succeeding generation of 
 farmers. 
 
 Cast your eyes across the Atlantic, and look at America and 
 Canada, with their vast unreclaimed territories, which only await 
 the arrival of the husbandman and the plough to yield enormous 
 quantities of wheat for exportation to the English market. With 
 the tide of emigration ever beating on their shores, and with every 
 year a larger home population to feed, these countries must, by the 
 ordinary operation of the laws of supply and demand, be less and 
 less able, in course of time, to send us any very important quantities 
 of corn. 
 
 But were that yet distant contingency ever so near at hand we 
 should still have but little reason to hope for any material relief from 
 foreign competition. For we have also to take into consideration 
 the almost boundless resources of our East Indian Empire, from 
 whence, through an extended railway system, corn will soon be 
 poured into the markets of Europe in practically unlimited quan- 
 tities. 
 
 FRUIT ; OR MILK AND MEAT? 
 
 Our attention has been lately directed to fruit cultivation. Now, 
 however popular the jam-pot may be with the youth of England, and 
 high and distinguished as is the authority on which the advice has 
 been given, I do not think that many practical farmers will be dis- 
 posed to grow fruit for jam as a means of replenishing their depleted 
 pockets. They will, I believe, much more hopefully apply themselves 
 to the production of milk, beef, and mutton. 
 
 Milk is almost a necessary of life— to young and old. Jam 
 is at best a dispensable luxury, the demand for which is limited ; 
 and, however much the consumption might increase, it would 
 
IO 
 
 ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 probably, in the end, benefit the doctor rather than the farmer. 
 Meat, again, except in the case of vegetarians by choice, takes a 
 place on the table of every Englishman who has the means to buy it. 
 The man who goes without it does so less from preference than from 
 compulsion. 
 
 Increase our meat supply as much as you may, there is no fear 
 of the demand being outrun and its production becoming unremu- 
 nerative. 
 
 Progress in the direction of an increased growth of beef and 
 mutton has of late years been sadly retarded by the importation at 
 intervals of diseases from abroad. The consequent onerous and 
 harassing restrictions laid upon the movement of our home stock 
 have entailed ruinous losses upon breeders and graziers. Despite 
 these drawbacks, there was a slight increase last year, and the 
 farming interest is evidently more and more recognising that its 
 prosperity is inseparably associated with the raising of live stock. 
 
 It is in this relation that ensilage will exert most influence upon 
 British agriculture. Silently and gradually, yet steadily and surely, 
 it must work a great revolution in our system of husbandry. 
 
 ENSILAGE SUITED TO VARIED SOILS. 
 
 I hope to show you conclusively that by the practice of ensilage 
 farmers may breed and graze more stock for the dairyman and the 
 butcher. The practice is adaptable to light, heavy, and mixed soils. 
 
 Our humid climate, although it favours the development of green 
 fodder crops, renders absolutely unavoidable a great annual loss in 
 the process of securing them, more especially in the case of our 
 autumn cuttings. Under the system of ensilage this loss may be 
 entirely obviated. 
 
 Of late years many poor, cold, and damp clay lands have gone 
 out of cultivation through the difficulty of finding tenants to take 
 them. In these instances the land has not been sown with grass 
 seeds, but has fallen into a condition which is the inevitable result 
 of that kind of loose cultivation and management to which men 
 are compelled to resort who find their capital diminishing month by 
 month. 
 
 Common couch and other coarse grasses having naturally got the 
 lead, it would cost a small fortune to clean these soils, and render 
 them fit to grow corn, or to properly lay them down to grass. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 1 1 
 
 But the silo will convert these coarse grasses into useful cattle 
 fodder, and give some return, even though the cultivation is restricted 
 to the stubbing of thistles and obnoxious weeds. 
 
 Of course, I do not for a moment suggest that ensilage of such 
 grass will equal in value that of finer quality ; but it is not too much 
 to assert that even common and ordinarily worthless grasses 
 become in a degree more valuable through the changes which they 
 undergo in the silo. 
 
 In last year’s lecture I reported some remarkably favourable 
 results in the increase of milk and cream from cows fed on ensilage 
 of common, coarse, couch-like grass, which grew under trees in an 
 open oak wood, and had previously been considered of no use what- 
 ever as food for horses, cattle, or sheep. 
 
 This year we filled a silo with grass from the same wood and it 
 was converted into excellent ensilage. We gave it to cows in 
 November. They greatly relished it, and its influence on their milk 
 was in every way satisfactory. 
 
 In support of what has just been observed as to the power of the 
 silo to give these coarser grasses an edible value, I may refer to one 
 of many examples included in the series of returns with which I 
 have been so kindly furnished. 
 
 Mr. J. H. Turner, agent of the Marquis of Bristol, Ick worth 
 Park, Suffolk, who has followed in all its essential points the Merton 
 plan, last year ensiled some meadow grass of a rough description, 
 and cut and carted it when very wet. The silo was closed on 
 July 23, and re-opened on January 25 last. Writing on February 6, 
 Mr. Turner says of the result : ‘The grass I ensilaged was of the 
 coarsest possible kind,- so much so that the stock would not eat it 
 before it was made into ensilage ; now they eat it vigorously.’ 
 
 A sample of this ensilage was sent to me, and was of excellent 
 quality. 
 
 WHAT THE SILO WILL DO , AND WHAT IT WILL 
 NOT DO. 
 
 What, then, is the process by which this great and beneficial 
 change is effected? Mr. Francis Sutton, Public Analyst for the 
 County of Norfolk, and Analyst to the Norfolk Chamber of Agri- 
 culture, in his able and highly satisfactory report appended to the 
 Analysis of Merton Ensilage, in 1882, pithily describes it as ‘ a 
 partial digestion.’ 
 
T 2 
 
 ENSILAGE: ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 The woody fibre of the plant being softened, its changed condi- 
 tion renders it more easy of assimilation. It is in fact more nutri- 
 tious than when fresh. With less stimulation of the gastric juices 
 there is less demand upon the constitution, and therefore less 
 detraction from the benefit derived. 
 
 The green material put into a well-appointed silo continues in a 
 fresh and wholesome state, and is subject to slower changes than 
 occur in the field. So long as active oxygen, or, in other words, 
 atmospheric air, is kept out, decay will not take place ; and without 
 decay there is no deterioration. By the application of sufficient 
 pressure the air is in the first place expelled, and it is subsequently 
 kept from permeating the mass by the slow but constant evolution of 
 carbonic acid gas. Low temperature is, of course, of importance. 
 If the process is to produce its full beneficial effect, it is obvious 
 that care will be required in its management. 
 
 The want of sufficient care has doubtless led to many erroneous 
 opinions as to the value of ensilage. Where the result has been 
 disappointing I hold that it has been invariably due to a loose and 
 careless, or to a faulty and perverted, method of procedure. Too 
 much must not be expected from the silo. Though it is astonishing 
 what it will do, it will work no miracle. 
 
 On this point a most instructive lesson is given by an experiment 
 of Mr. Jones Parry, of Tyllwyd, Newcastle Emlyn, the particulars 
 of which that gentleman has kindly permitted me to mention. Last 
 year he put into a silo a lot of coarse hedge-row grass, mixed with a 
 little clover aftermath, carried and chaffed when quite wet. The 
 result, as stated with frank, but facetious, common-sense, reads as 
 follows : ‘ The mistakes I made were using too coarse material — 
 silos will not turn thistles into grapes ; I filled too quickly, and so 
 lost much valuable space ; I used earth (contrary to your advice) 
 instead of bran or chaff ; ’ but yet, he adds, ‘ on the whole I am 
 satisfied ; I shall experiment more largely next year.’ 
 
 INEXPENSIVENESS OF SILOS . 
 
 As I have said, if the silo is to do effective and remunerative 
 work, care and skill must be shown in its management. This is so 
 important to be recognised that I beg you to excuse the reiteration. 
 At the same time it is unnecessary to provide expensive buildings 
 and appliances. Farmers will be neither able nor willing to adopt a 
 system that is costly or complicated. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 13 
 
 For practical utility, which is the great object, an old disused barn 
 is unsurpassed. It has the further advantage of reducing the expen- 
 diture to a minimum. 
 
 Though silos may vary in their form and character according to 
 the circumstances of particular farms, there is no occasion to lay out 
 large sums upon them, and on most farms, in the present prospec- 
 tive condition of agriculture, there is no margin for fancy buildings. 
 
 A simple oblong structure, thoroughly air-tight and water-tight, 
 is all that Science requires for the successful storage of ensiled 
 fodder. 
 
 IMPROVEMENTS IN SILO-PRACTICE. 
 
 SUPER-SILOS— NO RE-OPENING OR RE-FILLING. 
 
 In the conditions of the process itself, experience has suggested, 
 and practice approved, various alterations in the nature of improve- 
 ments. Some of these have so direct an influence on the ultimate 
 value of ensilage to British agriculture that I shall offer no apology 
 for referring to them. 
 
 One defect and drawback which attended the practice in its 
 early application was the re-opening and filling up again of the silo, 
 in order to make good the loss in bulk through the shrinkage that 
 takes place in the material during the first few days after the filling. 
 
 At Merton we have overcome this difficulty by means of a simple 
 mechanical contrivance, and at a trifling cost, more than repaid by 
 the saving effected in labour, independent of the additional security 
 it provides against re-admitting air into the silo. 
 
 This contrivance is what I may describe as a small super-silo — 
 an oblong, 2 -inch deal box, without bottom or lid, about 30 inches 
 in depth ; the sides and ends, which are separate and apart, being 
 brought together and affixed by ordinary bolts and clamps to the 
 wooden coping and walls of the silo-proper, and the sides strengthened 
 against lateral pressure by a few iron struts. 
 
 This simple arrangement costs so little as to be within the means 
 of every farmer. It may be fitted in twenty minutes, and — what is 
 also most important — during the time it is being adjusted the work 
 of filling may proceed without interruption. 
 
 When we have filled up to the top of the super-silo with chaffed 
 material, thoroughly well trodden down, we put on the surface a 
 cover of cross-tied boards, in three divisions, and spread over these 
 
14 
 
 ENSILAGE: ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 a layer of bran about five inches deep — bran being the most cleanly 
 and useful of all air excludents — and weight them in a manner to 
 which I will presently refer. 
 
 Shrinkage, as I have said, occurs chiefly in the first few days 
 after weighting. In less than a week from the filling the mass will 
 have settled to a level with the coping of the silo proper. We then 
 remove the portable super-silo. 
 
 The subsequent settling from the top of the silo itself varies 
 according to the character of the material ; but in our silos (which 
 are 14 feet 4 inches x 6 feet 3 inches, and 10 feet 6 inches in depth) 
 we have never found it to exceed from 20 to 25 inches. 
 
 Thus the necessity of re-opening and re-filling the silo to avoid a 
 waste of space is entirely got rid of, and it is now a rule with us to 
 have only one filling. The advantage of this, in enabling the work 
 to proceed uninterruptedly, and in rendering the whole process more 
 finished and methodical, will, I think, be obvious to all. 
 
 SALTING. 
 
 Another alteration, and also an undoubted improvement, is a 
 reduction in the allowance of salt ; a matter in which I believe mis- 
 takes to have been made. After careful observation, I am not pre- 
 pared to concur with those who would dispense altogether with the 
 use of salt ; but, so far as I am at present able to judge, the propor- 
 tion should be about three-quarters of a pound, and in no case more 
 than one pound to every hundredweight of the fodder. I would 
 suggest that the exact quantity for each silo should be accurately 
 weighed, and placed conveniently at hand, so that the men engaged 
 in filling the silo cannot, through inadvertence or carelessness, exceed 
 the allowance. 
 
 SILO-COVERING . 
 
 The question of the best kind of covering for the contents of the 
 silo has given rise to a good deal of controversy. 
 
 Last year I advocated the use of bran, not only on the ground 
 that it is the most cleanly of all materials, but that, when it has 
 served its purpose on the silo, it may be given to stock, and is thus 
 thoroughly economical. Further experience has confirmed me in 
 this view. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 1.5 
 
 From reports I have received I am aware that in some cases it 
 has not given satisfaction. For instance, in The Farmer (Jan. 28, 
 1884), I observe that a noted French ensiler, M. Cottu, of the 
 Chateau la Touche, in the Department of the Indre et Loire, has 
 strongly advocated the use of sawdust, because, he said, ‘ he con- 
 siders it absurd to waste or to use bran under the impression that it 
 can be consumed. ’ 
 
 The worthy Frenchman, like some of his English friends, has 
 fallen into a great mistake. To use a homely phrase, he has been 
 ‘ putting the cart before the horsed He appears to have spread the 
 bran next the fodder — beneath instead of over the planking. Where 
 such a mistake is made it is not surprising there should be disappoint- 
 ment through the waste of bran. As M. Cottu says, it would be 
 ‘ absurd ’ to expect stock to consume such mouldy, fusty, crusted 
 stuff. 
 
 I have actually come across one case in which a gentleman intro- 
 duced a layer of bran with each stratum of material. You may 
 imagine the result. The temperature of the silo was greatly raised, 
 overheating ensued, and rapid decomposition followed upon the 
 excess of fermentation. 
 
 I, therefore, ask you particularly to observe that the bran should 
 be laid over and upon the planking, not under, as has been done in 
 some cases, which will account for the waste, of which complaint has 
 sometimes been made. 
 
 The settling that follows the filling of the silo cannot be uniform ; 
 little 1 slips ’ and crevices occur at the sides, and into these the bran 
 particles run, closing them up. 
 
 Where sawdust or soil is used, you must get an admixture of dirt 
 and giit, which certainly no animals with a regard for their stomachs 
 would care about eating. On the other hand they will eat and enjoy 
 the little bran that gets mixed with the ensilage. 
 
 This point, I hope, is now sufficiently clear. A layer of bran 
 over the boards, not less than four or five inches in depth, is the best 
 possible covering. It effectually excludes atmospheric air, and the 
 portion that becomes mixed with the ensiled material does no harm 
 and occasions no trouble when the ensilage is taken from the silo. 
 
 We have, therefore, made this one of the established rules of our 
 Merton practice. 
 
i6 
 
 ENSILAGE: ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 \ 
 
 WEIGHTING.— MECHANICAL APPLIANCES. 
 
 In no particular, perhaps, has practice differed more than in the 
 weighting of the contents of the silo, both in respect to the amount 
 of weight and the method in which it is applied. This is a point 
 w r hich will greatly influence the results obtained. 
 
 The weights used are comparatively unimportant, except so far as 
 they involve much or little expense, but not so the cubical distribu- 
 tion of the weighting power. 
 
 There are those who advocate a very large and others an exceed- 
 ingly small amount of pressure. But here, as in most matters, the 
 mean is, perhaps, the sounder and safer rule. 
 
 Persons who favour the utmost compression seem to regard the 
 silo too exclusively from the side of the mere preservation of the 
 fodder ; while, on the other hand, those who hold the weighting to be 
 a matter of secondary importance do not sufficiently take into account 
 the mischief wrought in the silo by the presence of atmospheric air. 
 
 While we recommend the ensiled system to the favourable atten- 
 tion of agriculturists as a means of preserving our green crops, we 
 ought not to overlook its more important purpose. 
 
 As we have already observed, the material, under proper condi- 
 tions, undergoes certain beneficial changes in the silo, which changes 
 may be retarded or neutralised by an injudicious or improper method 
 of treatment. 
 
 The silo is much more than a reservoir for preserving — it is a 
 machine for making food ; and as such it must be allowed fair play. 
 It is in this relation that the portable super-silo of which I have 
 spoken becomes so valuable an auxiliary. 
 
 The silo being closed and weighted once for all, the process of 
 fermentation goes on uninterruptedly, and the ensilage contracts but 
 one crust of slightly deteriorated material instead of the two which 
 are found whenever the silo has been re-opened and re-filled. 
 
 On this point it seems that we should gain nothing by further 
 experiment. Our principle at Merton is, therefore, fixed and settled. 
 The proportion of weight we allow does not exceed 70 pounds to the 
 square superficial foot. 
 
 We also apply the weight in a simple, cheap, and effective way. 
 An ordinary pulley is the only kind of mechanical appliance that we 
 employ ; manual labour being all-sufficient. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 1 7 
 
 A number of boxes are filled with common gravel stones, care- 
 fully sifted, so that the underlying bran is as free of grit as possible, 
 and not damaged for feeding. 
 
 These boxes, which have been specially designed, are made of 
 ordinary English wood, are uniform in size, and each hold about 
 2 cwt. of stones ; the dimensions being 24 inches by 10 inches, and 
 the depth 18 inches. The parts are nailed together, tightened by a 
 binding of light one-inch hoop iron. The ends, which are curved 
 upwards, have small openings, through which is passed a moveable 
 iron cambrel, or handle, for attaching a pulley, by means of which the 
 boxes are easily hoisted into position. The time occupied in thus 
 weighting one of our silos never exceeds half an hour. 
 
 Various mechanical contrivances for silo weighting, lately brought 
 under public attention, are now in operation. But these, however 
 excellent in principle and successful in working, are luxuries, the cost 
 of which puts them beyond the reach of an average farmer. 
 
 One, a lever press, which has been introduced into a 90 or 
 ioo-ton silo, is said to have cost something like 40/. It is reported 
 to answer its purpose admirably. 
 
 Hydraulic pressure, which is also said to answer, requires that 
 iron tubes should be built into the walls of the silo. 
 
 Quite apart from the question of cost, however, the dead-weight 
 principle, simple and primitive as it is, appears to me to be preferable. 
 The chemical, as distinguished from the mechanical, work of the 
 silo, I believe to be best promoted by the more gradual and con- 
 tinuous settling of the material. 
 
 Of course, there are cases where mechanical compression is 
 indispensable, such, for instance, as where ensilage is manufactured 
 in small concentrated quantities for conveyance off the farm ; a point 
 to which I purpose referring later on. 
 
 RAMMING \ 
 
 The material was at first packed by our men treading and 
 ramming; the latter operation being performed with rather light 
 wooden rammers. As we observed that, though lifting the ‘ rams ' 
 high enough, the men were by no means prodigal of their strength 
 in bringing them down, we provided them with cast-iron, cone-shaped 
 ‘ rams,’ weighing about 21 lbs., with a handle four feet long. We 
 find that these answer exceedingly well and are inexpensive. If the 
 
 p. 
 
i8 
 
 ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 foreman sees that the ‘ rams ’ are reasonably elevated, the men 
 may be trusted to save their muscles by letting them fall quickly 
 enough. 
 
 LONG ENSILAGE . 
 
 This may be a convenient time to say a word on the subject of 
 long ensilage. Among many samples of ensilage forwarded to me 
 for inspection, I have found that although some which was unchaffed 
 was decidedly good, it was not equal in quality to that which was 
 chaffed. There was a perceptible difference in the aroma. 
 
 The odour from the long ensilage was such as you would expect 
 to be given off by decomposing vegetable matter ; and, in fact, some 
 of the smaller and finer blades of grass were decomposed. The 
 chaffed ensilage, on the contrary, had a wholesome vinous smell, 
 and was fresher and greener in colour. 
 
 Some persons have complained of being unable to chaff long 
 ensilage after it has come out of the silo. It is not surprising that 
 in a compressed condition it clogs the cutter. We might as well try 
 to chaff a cake of tobacco. The same comparison might not 
 inaptly apply to the process of mastication and digestion. When 
 green, it is, of course, easily cut into chaff without any clogging 
 whatever. 
 
 The chaffed grass also packs much more closely in the silo than 
 the long, so that subsequent shrinkage is greatly reduced. This fact 
 is conclusively shown in the various reports I have received. 
 
 Without desiring to condemn the ensiling of long grass, I have 
 seen nothing at present to induce me, on the ground of economy, 
 convenience, or utility, to alter our plan of chaffing all material 
 before putting it into the silo. 
 
 In this conclusion I am supported, among other authorities, by 
 Mr. E. B. Gibson, of Saffron Walden, who ensiled 13 acres of green 
 fodder in 1882, 57 acres in 1883, and this year proposes to put up 
 the produce of 100 acres. He says : c I have tried some unchaffed, 
 but shall not do so again. Too much fermentation takes place, and 
 much space is lost.’ 
 
 CARTING. 
 
 Many of my correspondents report that their carting went on 
 in wet — sometimes very wet — weather. Now, while it is one of the 
 chief advantages of the silo system that it enables the farmer to 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 19 
 
 gather his green tt-ops under unfavourable conditions of the atmo- 
 sphere, it does not follow that these may not ultimately affect in some 
 degree the quality of the ensilage. 
 
 When circumstances admit, it is undoubtedly desirable for the 
 cutting and carting to take place in weather neither too wet nor 
 too dry. A reasonable amount of moisture will be beneficial, and 
 therefore the crops should, as far as practicable, be cut and carted 
 on sunless days, and in times of wet when the rain is intermitted. 
 
 CROPS FOR ENSILAGE. 
 
 We are now in a position to consider more specifically the influ- 
 ence of ensilage upon the agriculture of this kingdom. If the man 
 who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before is a 
 benefactor of the human race, surely no less is he through whose 
 efforts those blades and others hitherto wasted are converted into 
 nutritious food for stock. 
 
 Ensilage enables the farmer to make this conversion. He may 
 thus avoid the deplorable loss arising from wet haysels, and have in 
 the severest winter a supply of good succulent food, little inferior in 
 its properties to the rich growing herbage of spring and summer. He 
 is further able to bring into useful cultivation unpromising and 
 unproductive land. 
 
 These points I hope to establish to your satisfaction by giving an 
 account of practical trials at Merton as to the relative value of ensiled 
 and harvested crops. 
 
 Time and convenience require that I should not trouble you with 
 figures more than is absolutely necessary. The few I am obliged to 
 give have been taken from carefully worked-out tabulated details now 
 before me, which are open to the inspection of any gentleman who 
 desires to examine them. 
 
 ENSILED GLASS v. HA Y 
 
 To test the relative weight and value of grass as ensilage and hay, 
 we put into the silo an acre of heavy meadow grass. It weighed 12 j 
 tons and produced 12 tons of ensilage. An acre of the same made 
 into hay weighed 2 tons 7 cwt. 
 
 Take the value of the ensilage at 1 l. 6 s. 81 . per ton, only.one-third 
 the value of hay (which I am aware is much too low an estimate, but 
 
20 
 
 ENSILAGE: ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 I have adopted it in this and the other calculationswhich I am about 
 to bring under your notice, being desirous of keeping well within the 
 mark and of allowing, beyond all question, a margin sufficient to meet 
 any possible contentions on the part of sceptics) ; then deduct the 
 incidental expenses, including an allowance of 6/. i2.r. 4 d. per cent, 
 on the cost of building a silo, and of 35s. an acre for rent and tithe, 
 together amounting to 5/. 4 s. gd., and we have a balance to our credit 
 of 10/. 155. 3 d. Deducting from the return of the 2 tons 7 cwt. of 
 hay (valued at 9 1 . 8s.) 3/. 8s. 2d. for mowing, making, stacking, 
 chaffing, and rent and tithe, we have a nett balance of 5/. 19s. 10^., 
 showing a sum of 4/. 15s. 5 d. per acre in favour of the ensilage as 
 against the hay. 1 
 
 ENSILED ‘BEANE’ OR BUCKWHEAT v. HARVESTED 
 
 BRANK. 
 
 It is probably within your knowledge that green ‘ brank, ’ or buck- 
 wheat, when the grain is just forming, constitutes a healthy and 
 nutritious food for horses and cattle. The plant is easy of cultiva- 
 tion, and will grow on dark and soft, as well as bright and sandy, 
 soils. In an average season, where the seed has been sown thickly, 
 it yields a somewhat bulky crop ; but as a rule the quantity of grain 
 produced is very uncertain. For the silo it should be cut when the 
 seeds of the upper flowers are turning brown. 
 
 We have tested the value of this plant as ensilage, and compared 
 it with its ordinary value as a seed crop. The result is as follows : — 
 
 An acre cut for the silo weighed 8J tons, and produced 8 tons 
 of ensilage, which, again taking the value at one-third that of hay, 
 gives a return of 10/. 13s. 4 d. From this sum we deduct 5 L 17 s. 7 d. 
 on account of incidental charges, rent, and interest, leaving a balance 
 of 4/. 15 s. 9 d. 
 
 The harvested crop, which yielded 4 qrs. of grain per acre, was 
 sold at 32 s. per quarter, and if we add to this 10s., the value of the 
 straw, the gross return is 61 . 18s. The incidental charges amounted 
 to 4/. 10s. 6 d giving a nett return of 2/. *js. 6 d., or a balance of 
 2/. 8s. 3 d. in favour of the ensilage. 
 
 It may be interesting to add that the brank came out of the silo 
 in most excellent condition, and was greatly relished by stock. 2 
 
 Vide Appendix A. 
 
 2 Vide Appendix B. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 21 
 
 ENSILED OATS v. HARVESTED OATS. 
 
 An acre of green oats out on July 5 last, on land formerly held 
 by a tenant at i8.r. an acre, rent and tithe, weighed 13 tons, and 
 produced 12 tons of ensilage. Its value, estimated at one-third that 
 of hay, was 16/. The cost of cultivating, making, &c., with an 
 allowance for interest on the cost of building the silo, was 61. 1 8x. 6d . ; 
 leaving a balance of 9 L is. 6d. 
 
 One acre harvested gave 7 qrs. of grain, of the value, with the 
 straw, of 9 1. 4s. The expenses on account of cultivating and har- 
 vesting, with rent, &c., were 5/. 2 s. 5 d. ; thus giving a nett return 
 of 4/. is. yd*, and showing a balance in favour of the ensiled crop of 
 4I. 19J. 1 id. 
 
 This, however, does not represent all the advantage derived from 
 ensiling oats. Cut in a green state, the crop does not exhaust 
 the land to the same extent as when it is left to mature, and we can 
 at once sow common turnips, which will be available for consump- 
 tion on the land during the following spring. Thus the quantity of 
 stock-food can be increased, while the fertility of the land itself is 
 reinstated in time to produce a crop of barley in the same year, after 
 the turnips are fed off. 1 
 
 SPURREY . , AN ENSILAGE-PLANT FOR LIGHT SANDY 
 
 SOILS. 
 
 As we have seen, the ensilage system may be applied to different 
 kinds of soils, though its results will vary with the quality of the soil, 
 the process of cultivation, and the crops made use of. I will now 
 ask you to consider it in one relation in which I think it would be 
 impossible to over-estimate its advantages. 
 
 In many parts of the country there are, as we know, thousands of 
 acres of poor, light, sandy soil, lying comparatively uncultivated or 
 unremunerative. For these lands, if their sterility were absolute, 
 the silos would be of no avail. But their sterility is not absolute. I 
 believe it possible to bring them under cultivation, to the undoubted 
 advantage of the owners, the occupiers, and the general com- 
 munity. 
 
 Though they will grow neither grass nor clover, I think Lord 
 1 Vide Appendix C, 
 
22 
 
 ENSILAGE: ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 Walsingham has succeeded in selecting a plant suited to such soils, 
 which makes an excellent food for the use of cowkeeper and flock- 
 master. After consideration and inquiry, his Lordship came to the 
 conclusion that spurrey (, Spergula arvensis) might be profitably 
 cultivated on light sandy soil, and the practical trials which I made, 
 under his directions, have fully sustained that position. 
 
 Before speaking of these trials, I ought, perhaps, briefly to refer 
 to the plant itself. 
 
 Spurrey is an annual plant of the pink and carnation family 
 ( Caryophyllacece ), and is largely cultivated in different parts of the 
 Continent of Europe. It yields a rapid crop of succulent herbage. 
 When ripe, the capsules burst, and shed a great number of black seeds, 
 which are said to be equal in nutritive value to rape cake. These 
 seeds are bruised and given to horses and milch cows, and have the 
 effect of increasing the quantity and improving the quality of the 
 milk. Abounding on inferior light soils, the plant is greedily eaten 
 by sheep and cattle, and is pronounced very wholesome and nutri- 
 tious. 
 
 Von Thaer and other Continental agricultural authorities de- 
 scribe it as an eminently nutritious herbage. 
 
 Von Voght, who made some years ago many and long-continued 
 experiments, says that, when sown on sandy soils, ‘ spurrey is a better 
 pasture than red or white clover; the cows give more and better milk, 
 and it improves the land in an extraordinary degree.’ The same 
 authority also says — ‘The blessing of spurrey, the clover of sandy soils , 
 is incredible when it is rightly employed, I sow it on the rye and 
 oat stubble, and I obtain a beautiful pasture and a manuring equal 
 to four or six cart-loads of manure .’ 1 
 
 Schwartz, another authority, declares that without spurrey the 
 Campine, a district in Dutch Brabant, instead of being ‘ the best 
 cultivated soil in the world, would have been still a desert.’ The 
 plant is one ‘ which requires no manure for itself, and which, even 
 when mown, by the residue it leaves, gives back more than it takes 
 from the soil — which demands no fixed place in the rotation, but 
 which is satisfied to come in as an after-crop, whenever the soil is at 
 liberty — which, except for the seed, requires no preparation — which 
 is satisfied with a soil in which nothing else but rye will grow — and 
 which increases the quantity of milk and butter and improves their 
 quality .’ 2 
 
 1 Ucber manche Vortheile der griinen Diingung, p. 23. 
 
 2 Schwaitz, Account of the Belgian Husbandry , ii. p. 23. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 23 
 
 The experimental crop which I grew by Lord Walsingham’s 
 desire was grown under such conditions as fairly tested the properties 
 of the plant. It yielded a most excellent food for sheep and cattle, 
 and may, therefore, be advantageously cultivated. 
 
 Speaking at the dinner of the Nottinghamshire Agricultural 
 Society in January last, Mr. Foljambe, M.P., referring to this plant 
 as grown at Merton, made use of the very local and provincial mis- 
 nomer, ‘ Dodder.’ The plant known in connection with English 
 agriculture under the name of 1 Dodder ’ is Cuscuta : Europcea , a 
 troublesome parasitic weed, especially injurious in clover fields, and 
 difficult to eradicate. It belongs to the family Convolvulacece , and is, 
 of course, totally distinct from Spergula arvensis. 
 
 Mr. Foljambe, although a distinguished member of the Royal 
 Agricultural Society, has evidently overlooked an important paper 
 on the value of Spurrey for agricultural purposes. It will be found 
 in vol. III. pp. 418-19 of the Journal published by that Society. 
 
 As, however, he was good enough to express an interest in the 
 result of our proposed analysis of ensiled spurrey, I am happy to 
 inform him that the results have more than equalled our most san- 
 guine expectations. So far from the animals called upon to eat the 
 food requiring the pity which he was ready to bestow upon them, 
 they are much more likely to be objects of envy by their less for- 
 tunate neighbours, whether in the fold or at the manger. 
 
 But to revert to our Merton trials. 
 
 Spurrey, in its cultivated form, being quite new to me, I had to 
 consider, in the first place, how to secure genuine seed ; and, 
 secondly, how best to proceed to cultivate it. 
 
 In the absence of practical knowledge and experience on these 
 points, I at once applied to the eminent firm of seedsmen, Messrs. 
 Sutton and Sons of Reading. Explaining our intentions, I asked 
 them not only to send me the necessary seed, but to oblige me with 
 some general instructions as to the best plan to pursue in preparing 
 the land, and sowing it. 
 
 It gives me much pleasure to state publicly that I was not disap- 
 pointed in my confident expectation that they would be willing as 
 well as able to render me valuable assistance. 
 
 The trial, as desired, was a severe one. The land selected was a 
 piece of twenty acres of blowing sand, so poor in quality that it had 
 seldom produced either corn or roots, and for the last two or three 
 years had been abandoned to nature. Only here and there a spire 
 of quickgrass ( Triticum repens ) was to be seen. 
 
24 
 
 ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 About the middle of April the plough was lightly run over the 
 land, and the seed sown at the rate of 14 lbs. to the acre. The 
 plant grew rapidly. In July it was from 12 to 14 inches high. It 
 was then fit to feed off with sheep, and I told the shepherd to fold 
 on it at night. 
 
 What a look of horror he gave ! ‘ The sheep,’ he said, ‘ will 
 
 never eat such stuff.’ And for the first three or four nights they 
 certainly did not seem to care very much for it. They ate but little. 
 
 Then, one morning, the old shepherd came to me, with a very 
 long face, and said : ‘ Lor’, Sir, here’s a “ werry ” nice job, ain’t it ; 
 “jest ” as I “ expacted ” ; that stuff ’s a killin’ the sheep ! ’ 
 
 One had died during the night. But a post mortem examination 
 made in my presence at once proved that the unfortunate animal, 
 instead of being brought to an untimely end through eating spurrey, 
 died from inflammation of the lungs, the attack not one of recent 
 standing. 
 
 With blank astonishment the shepherd received the instruction 
 that I now gave him : ‘You must continue to fold off the spurrey ; 
 we will see how many more it will kill.’ 
 
 In some five or six days the sheep had taken to the food ; eating 
 it up clean every night. They seemed particularly partial to the 
 seed-capsules. During the four or five weeks they were folded on the 
 piece they got no other food except what little they picked up on a 
 somewhat bare sheep-walk in the course of the day. There was no 
 other case of sickness or mortality among them. They gained in 
 condition, and for several days after the food was finished they 
 manifested a desire to go back to the piece. 
 
 Even the shepherd was satisfied. He was sorry when the 
 spurrey was done, and now looks upon it as an excellent food for 
 sheep. 
 
 While the sheep were being folded we made a trial of the plant 
 for purposes of ensilage. We cut a quantity for the silo. It pro- 
 duced 5J tons per acre. Considering the circumstances under which 
 the crop was then grown for the first time, I have no reason to doubt 
 that this weight may be largely increased. When cut into chaff we 
 packed the material closely in the silo, which was filled and sealed 
 on July 24, and opened on December 6. 
 
 The ensilage came out in excellent order, which those who saw 
 the sample exhibited at Messrs. Sutton’s Stand, at the Smithfield 
 Show, can verify. The seed-capsules were apparently as perfect as on 
 the day they were ensiled. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 25 
 
 Sheep and cattle were fed with a mixture of this ensilage and 
 ordinary straw chaff. It was given to three or four cows side by 
 side with grass ensilage. They decidedly preferred it, apparently 
 much relishing its flavour. The sheep ate it as soon as it was offered 
 them, and were evidently very fond of it. 
 
 In fact, the results were so thoroughly satisfactory to us, as show- 
 ing that spurrey may be advantageously cultivated on light lands in 
 Norfolk, that instead of the twenty acres we grew last year we have 
 made arrangements to seed down this year upwards of 120 acres. 
 
 The larger part of this will be ensiled ; the residue fed off with 
 sheep. 
 
 I may here observe that the advantage of growing this plant 
 appears to be by no means confined to what is got out of one crop. 
 A second crop may, I think, be grown in the same year. 
 
 As soon as our first crop has been cut and ensiled, we intend in 
 future to harrow the ground with a coarse harrow and sow about 
 7lbs. more seed per acre. We expect this to provide a good feeding 
 material for ewes in the autumn. Or the crop might even be ploughed 
 in when green. In either case it must act as a useful manurial agent. 
 
 I need scarcely add that the weight of the crop would be con- 
 siderably increased by the application of rape-cake, guano, or some 
 similar manure. 
 
 COST OF CULTIVATING AND ENSILING SPURREY. 
 
 You will naturally desire some information as to the cost of 
 cultivating and ensiling Spurrey. As in the other trials, so in this, 
 details have been frapied with great care. A summary must suffice 
 for our purpose here. 
 
 The seed cost 455. per cwt., which is at the rate of 5s. 10 d. per 
 acre, and the total expenditure on account of seed, cultivating, 
 ensiling, and all other incidental expenses, including interest on silo 
 building, amounted to 2/. 8*. 6d. per acre. In its natural state the 
 spurrey weighed 5^ tons, and when ensiled 5 tons per acre. On the 
 already adopted basis of one-third the value of hay at 4/. per ton, it 
 realised 61 . 13 s. 4 d. per acre. Deducting the incidental expenditure, 
 allowing for rent 3 s., the price at which the land, now unlet, was 
 valued to a tenant some years ago, the nett profit amounted to 
 4/. 4 s. 10 d. per acre. 1 
 
 1 Vide Appendix D. 
 
26 
 
 ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 QUALITY OF 7 HE ENSILED SPURREY. 
 
 The results of our feeding tests and the report of the experienced 
 Analyst, Mr. Sutton, of Norwich, jointly confirm the exceedingly 
 great value of ensiled spurrey as a concentrated cattle food. 
 
 You will observe from the printed tables that those two most 
 important substances, albumenoids and fat, are present in large and 
 notable proportions. 
 
 As I have said, the ensilage was in a most excellent condition. 
 It possessed a flavour peculiar to the plant, due to the development 
 of essential oil. And, as showing how marked a feature this is in 
 spurrey, I would mention that one morning a herdsman called my 
 attention to the condition of his shirt about the shoulders, which he 
 said felt as though it had been dipped in oil — an effect produced by 
 his carrying ensilage to the stock. 
 
 ENSILED MAIZE. 
 
 Much having been written at different times on Ensiled Maize, we 
 last year determined to try it at Merton. 
 
 We selected a piece of land, which was valued some fifteen years 
 ago at a rental of 28^. an acre, including tithe, and on which we grew 
 a crop of mangold in 1882. In the middle of May we ploughed in 
 some good farmyard manure — 15 loads to the acre. On the 28th we 
 drilled in common flat maize, purchased in Watton Market ; at the 
 rate of six pecks to the acre, with the rows twelve inches apart. The 
 soil was very dry, and a fortnight passed without the least sign of 
 germination. But no sooner had the plant made its appearance above 
 ground than it grew with marked rapidity. 
 
 When cut for ensiling, on September 6th, it had reached the 
 height (as you may see from the specimens exhibited here) of from 
 seven to nine feet. 
 
 As stated in my previous lecture upon this subject, some years 
 ago we grew a crop of maize on the Merton Home farm, which 
 attained a height of 5 or 6 feet. Its weight was calculated at 10 tons 
 per acre. I was told at the time that this was an under-estimated 
 weight ; and it would now really seem to have been so, as last year’s 
 crop weighed no less than 28 tons to the acre. 
 
 Much of this excess of weight may of course be attributed to the 
 more vigorous growth of the plant, and to the greater height to which 
 it attained. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 2 7 
 
 Some of the stems were as much as five inches in circumference. 
 
 The crop was, in fact, even more remarkable than the Canadian 
 dairy farmer’s (Mr. Pierce’s) described in my former lecture. That 
 crop was 6 feet high and weighed 25 tons to the acre. 
 
 A point which required some consideration on our part was how 
 best to cut such a bulky crop in the field and carry it to the chaffing 
 machine. We adopted a very simple plan. 
 
 Men were employed to chop it with reap-hooks as close down to 
 the ground as possible ; and to facilitate carriage they were provided 
 with cords about 4 feet in length, to each of which an iron ring 
 was attached. The maize was laid across these cords in armsful, as 
 caught in falling, and the bundles were alternately reversed. This 
 latter plan greatly aided the operation of the chaff-cutter, as the 
 flaggy parts and the rough stems of the plant were well intermingled, 
 obviating the cutting all at once of the stronger material, and equal- 
 ising the distribution of the finer and coarser parts within the silo. 
 We used one of Richmond and Chandler’s ordinary two-knife 
 cutters ; but removed one of the knives from the wheel, as we found 
 the work to be much better done with a single knife. 
 
 In filling the silo we took into account the nature of the material, 
 and employed extra treaders and rammers, so as to ensure its being 
 compactly stored. The silo was filled and closed the same day, and 
 covered and weighted according to our custom. 
 
 When the silo was opened the contents were found to be per- 
 fectly cool, and so far as we could judge they had been at no time 
 subject to any great amount of heat. Along the side of the ensilage, 
 at the top of the silo, in the form of a triangular band, was a portion 
 which had become mouldy ; but this deterioration was very slight 
 indeed, the band being only 3 in. by 3 in. 
 
 It is also a noteworthy fact that whenever we have cut out a fresh 
 section of the ensilage, which we have done about once a fortnight, 
 the exposed surface has not shown the least indication of decay, and 
 the quality of the bulk has been sound throughout. 
 
 . Owing to the undoubted modification of the constituents of the 
 maize, due to the action of the silo, the woody fibre of the stems 
 and knots was wholly changed in character, and it was easily 
 pressed in pieces with thumb and finger. 
 
 This I regard as an interesting fact when taken in connection with 
 a trial in feeding cows on green maize chaff which we made at 
 Merton some years ago. The cows at first ate this chaff very un- 
 
28 
 
 ENSILAGE: ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 willingly, and when they had become accustomed to it they suffered 
 in a particular way, which I ascribed to 1 the indigestible nature of 
 the woody fibre forming the outer rind of the stalks.’ I also sug- 
 gested, as a reasonable inference from my experience of the changes 
 effected by the silo in the case of other crops, that this objectionable 
 feature in maize might possibly be removed by ensiling it — an 
 opinion which is not now a matter of conjecture, but one fully 
 corroborated by actual practice. 1 
 
 ENSILED MAIZE v. SWEDES. 
 
 Although I would not for a moment think of recommending the 
 supercession of turnips, swedes, or mangold, by maize, it may never- 
 theless be instructive and interesting if I just mention, the result of 
 a trial we have made as to the relative value of a crop of swedes and 
 a crop of maize, grown side by side on the same land and treated 
 precisely alike. 
 
 After being topped and tailed ready for consumption, the swedes 
 were weighed and gave 18 tons to the acre. We put their value at 
 15^. per ton, which would be 13/. 10s. for the acre. The cost of 
 cultivating, manuring, and preparing for stock, with rent and tithe, 
 was 8/. igs. $d., which leaves us a nett balance of 4/. ioj -. 9 d. 
 
 On the other hand, an acre of the maize cut green weighed 
 28 tons, and produced 26 tons of ensilage, which, at one-third the 
 value of hay, would represent a money value of 34/. 13^. 4!. 
 Deducting 1 3^. lod. on account of all incidental charges, we 
 
 have a nett return of 20/. 9^. 61., thus showing the large balance of 
 15/. iSs. gd. per acre in favour of this ensiled maize as against 
 the swedes. 2 
 
 RESULTS OF ANALYSES. 
 
 Samples of these different kinds of ensilage, with the exception 
 of the ‘ brank,’ which was not in use at the time, have been analysed by 
 Mr. Francis Sutton, the chemist to whom I previously alluded, and 
 whose standing in his profession will be accepted as a guarantee that 
 the test was efficiently and honestly conducted. The results, fully 
 tabulated, are in your hands. 
 
 1 Vide Appendix E. 
 
 2 Vide Appendix F, 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 29 
 
 In the report appended to these tables, Mr. Sutton says, the 
 figures ‘ practically speak for themselves ; ’ but he also observes, ‘ in 
 judging of the results of analyses we must look at all the materials in 
 a perfectly dry state. Then the comparison is clearly understood, 
 and we see that the first most convenient set of comparisons is between 
 fresh grass, ensilage made from the same grass, and hay made from 
 the same grass. One would, perhaps, naturally expect to find that 
 when the same grass is taken for all these separate articles at the 
 same time and under the same conditions, the eventual composition 
 would be very much the same. As a fact it is not so. 
 
 £ The figures clearly show that in making grass into hay there is a 
 distinct and notable loss of nutritive matter, not in one particular 
 only, but practically in all ; for it is found that the only two classes 
 of really nutritious matters— namely, albumenoids, or flesh-formers ; 
 and digestible carbo-hydrates, or fat-formers — are richer by about 
 15 per cent, in the former case, and 7 per cent, in the latter; the 
 useless woody fibre being increased in the hay owing to the drying 
 process which has taken place. 
 
 ‘ But the ensilage is even further improved by the process of the 
 silo, for the flesh-formers show an increase of 20 per cent., and the 
 fat-formers about 12 per cent., while the useless woody fibre is 
 diminished even as compared with the fresh grass.’ 
 
 Mr. Sutton, therefore, repeats his earlier contention that £ a ripen- 
 ing, or partial digestive, process goes on in the silo, and the food so 
 produced is so much the more assimilable to the alimentary organs of 
 the beasts fed on it, and hence they ought theoretically to do better 
 on ensilage than on grass.’ 
 
 This theoretical expectation is fully borne out by practical experi- 
 ence, and the superiority of such food is, indeed, £ a fact beyond 
 dispute.’ 
 
 Speaking of the ensiled spurrey and maize, Mr. Sutton points out 
 that these substances £ differ very greatly — they differ from grass and 
 they differ very widely from each other.’ But £ there is the same 
 leading feature’ in both these plants, ‘as has been noticed in the case 
 of grass;’ namely, £ a constant diminution of indigestible woody 
 matter, and an increase of soluble matters due to the silo.’ Mr. 
 Sutton adds : £ The change is always in the same direction, and that 
 a beneficial one.’ 
 
 Spurrey, which ‘contains some actual sugar, besides a very con- 
 siderable proportion of oil,’ he regards as ‘ one of the richest 
 [materials] for conversion into ensilage.’ Further, ‘ the amount of 
 
3 d 
 
 ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 soluble flesh-formers and ready- formed fat is most marked, and it 
 cannot fail to be a food upon which any kind of ruminant animal 
 would improve rapidly.’ 
 
 Though not so rich, ‘ maize is most undoubtedly a good material 
 for ensiling. It supplies bulk, and this is an important point in the 
 case of cattle with their large stomachs.’ There is ‘an increase of 
 about io per cent, in the total flesh and fat-formers, and a diminution 
 in like proportion of the useless fibre, as compared with the same 
 plant in the form of fresh chaff .’ 1 
 
 RESULTS IN FEEDING. 
 
 It is when turning to the results which have attended the feeding 
 of stock with ensilage that we perceive how vast an influence this 
 new system is destined to exercise upon British agriculture. Of its 
 benefits in this relation the evidence is overwhelming both in volume 
 and in force. 
 
 In feeding cows, we may, I suppose, lay it down as a rule. that 
 the more plentiful the food the more plentiful the milk ; the richer 
 the food the richer the milk, the cream, and the butter. The 
 quantity and quality of the milk produced by ensilage we, therefore, 
 assume to be the best test of its value as a food for stock. 
 
 Taking this test, we find, in nine out of every ten practical trials, 
 the flow of milk is stimulated and its quality enriched, by the use of 
 ensilage. 
 
 Where results have been disappointing, the cause may invariably 
 be traced to feeding too exclusively with ensilage. 
 
 We know what human experience in such matters is, and we 
 conclude that it is possible to give an animal too much good food. 
 If an alderman, for instance, were compelled to take turtle — or per- 
 haps, I ought to say, ‘conger-eel’ soup — at every meal, he would 
 very soon ‘ turn up his nose ’ at it, or possibly ‘ turn turtle ’ himself. 
 
 Moreover, all animals will not equally thrive on the same diet : 
 what suits one does not always agree with another, and all cows are 
 not good milkers, however generously fed. 
 
 Time precludes me from quoting many gratifying reports with 
 which I have been favoured on this subject. 
 
 Personal experience being so much more valued than second- 
 hand information, I propose to invite your attention chiefly to trials 
 1 Vide Appendix G. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 3 » 
 
 conducted at Merton ; but, before doing so, I will refer briefly to 
 two or three reports, that I may corroborate our experience by 
 independent testimony. 
 
 Mr. H. C. Fryer, the Lodge Park, Glandovey, speaking of an 
 experiment, described by him as a ‘splendid success,’ says: — ‘For 
 years I have been on the look out for some succulent food for cows 
 in early winter which will not impart a disagreeable flavour to the 
 milk and butter. It appears to me that ensilage exactly supplies 
 this desideratum, and will give us the right sort of food up to the 
 time when mangolds can be used. And if it does nothing more 
 than fill up this gap I feel sure that all cowkeepers will bless the day 
 that introduced ensilage to their notice. I look on it as so valuable 
 for my milking cows that I grudge an ounce of it to any other 
 animal.’ 
 
 In carrying out the Merton practice to the letter, Lord Tolle- 
 mache has attained great success, on his Peckforton estate, and, 
 writing on January 12, his lordship says : — ‘I am so satisfied of the 
 advantages of ensilage that I intend to make a larger quantity next 
 season. I am about to consult my tenants, as to the best way ot 
 extending the system to the farms.’ 
 
 Having heard that a conference of the Peckforton tenants, called 
 by Lord Tollemache, was to be held to-day, I telegraphed his lordship 
 to be so kind as to let me know the result of the meeting, and I have 
 this evening received the following telegram : — ‘Called only a small 
 meeting of principal tenants to encourage freedom of discussion. All 
 passed off remarkably well. Ten of the tenants applied for two silos 
 each, which will be supplied to them this year.’ 
 
 Mr. Wm. J. Harris, of Halwill Manor, Devon, in stating his 
 experience, writes : ‘ I am about to put up ensilagfe-room for 1000 
 tons. The experiment has far surpassed my expectations, and the 
 farm manager and his men, who thought at the time that it was a 
 mad enterprise, are now the most anxious to have more silo-room at 
 once constructed.’ 
 
 ENSILED MAIZE AND SWEDES.— COMPARATIVE TEST 
 WITH COWS. 
 
 From November 1 last we gave an allowance of wood-grass 
 ensilage, at the rate of 35 lbs. per cow per diem, with the addition 
 of 18 lbs. of straw chaff, 8 lbs. of maize meal, and two lbs. of bran, to 
 all our cows except two. 
 
.ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 These cows, named Lady Manchester and Spark 4th, we pur- 
 posely reserved for a month’s trial, to ascertain the relative feeding 
 value of ensiled maize and swedes. 
 
 All the cows had previously been fed daily with 30 lbs. of mixed 
 hay and straw chaff, 6 lbs. of maize meal, and 8 lbs. of bran. As 
 soon as we introduced the wood-grass ensilage into their diet their 
 yield of milk improved. 
 
 From January 10 we gave ensiled maize. Each had daily 42 lbs. of 
 ensilage, 10 lbs. of straw chaff, 8 lbs. of maize meal, and 2 lbs. of 
 bran. On this diet the milk supply still further increased, and the 
 cream became richer in quality. 
 
 The month’s trial to which the two reserved cows were put from 
 January 10 shows some remarkable results. 
 
 Lady Manchester was dieted as the other ensilage-fed cows, and 
 Spark 4th received daily down to January 31 70 lbs. of swedes, 10 
 lbs. of straw-chaff, 8 lbs. of maize-meal, and 2 lbs. of bran, but no 
 ensilage. When the trial began, Lady Manchester, who weighed 
 48 stones, was giving daily 11^ quarts of milk, which registered n° 
 of cream. Spark 4th, who weighed 56 stones, was giving n quarts 
 of milk, which also registered n° of cream. 
 
 On January 12 Lady Manchester yielded 13 quarts of milk, 
 showing 12 0 of cream; on the 13th, 14 quarts and 13 0 of cream ; 
 the next four days the same quantity of milk, with the cream raised 
 to 1 4 0 ; the following six days 14^ quarts of milk, but no alteration 
 in the quality of the cream ; on the 24th, the milk fell half a quart 
 (to 14 quarts), but the cream rose a degree (to 15 0 ) ; the eight 
 following days the supply of milk reached 14^ quarts, and the cream 
 fell again to 14 0 , except on January 26 and February 1, when it once 
 more registered 15 0 ; and during the remaining days of the trial the 
 supply of milk was 14 quarts, with the quality of cream 14 0 . 
 
 As I have stated, we put Spark 4th on swedes from January 10 
 to January 30. Her daily milk supply throughout this time was 
 generally 12 quarts, and the cream alternated between 12 0 and 13 0 . 
 On three days only (January 21, 22, and 23) did she give as much as 
 13 quarts of milk. 
 
 During the last seven days, commencing January 31 and ending 
 February 6, her food was changed. Instead of the 70 lbs. of 
 swedes she had daily 42 lbs. of maize ensilage, with the same allow- 
 ance of dry food as before. Mark the important difference in the 
 weight of food ! 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 33 
 
 An increase in her milk at once took place. On the ist it was 
 14 quarts ; on the 2nd, 15 ; and on the remaining four days, 15J. 
 The cream continued to register 13 0 . 
 
 Taking the three weeks during which swedes were given, Spark 
 4th averaged daily 12 i-6th quarts of milk, giving i2|° of cream, 
 while the average of Lady Manchester was 14 quarts of milk, and 
 the cream 13!°. 
 
 During the month Lady Manchester gained on her ensilage diet 
 four stones (52 stones), and Spark 4th only two stones (58 stones) on 
 the swedes. 
 
 A corresponding improvement in condition to that of Lady Man- 
 chester’s has also been observed in the case of the other cows 
 similarly fed, and has led to the bailiff reducing their allowance of 
 maize meal by 2 lbs. per head per diem (to 6 lbs.). 1 
 
 ENSILAGE-FED SHEEP . 
 
 Many inquiries have been made as to the suitability of ensilage 
 as a food for sheep. 
 
 About a year ago I published in a letter the results of a most 
 satisfactory trial with half-a-score ewes, conducted by Mr. T. J. Gay- 
 ford, of the Manor Farm, Wretham, one of the most experienced 
 flockmasters in Norfolk. As he had no silo on his farm at that time 
 the trial was made with Merton ensilage. 
 
 Satisfied himself as a practical flockmaster, and encouraged by 
 his shepherd’s wish that the whole flock of 800 ewes should this 
 season be supplied with ensilage, Mr. Gayford applied to his land- 
 lord, Mr. Morris, of Wretham Hall, to build him some silos. That 
 gentleman has liberally responded to his request and has provided 
 him with three large barn silos. 
 
 Since January 7 the entire flock has been fed with ensiled grass 
 from these silos. The ewes have been throughout in an eminently 
 thriving condition, and never looked better. 
 
 TheTitgh opinion which Mr. Gayford entertains of ensilage may 
 be inferred from his having stated that if he were about to take 
 another sheep-farm he should stipulate for silos to be provided, and 
 in the alternative event of the landlord not being disposed to incur 
 the outlay, he would gladly undertake to pay interest on the capital 
 expended in such buildings. 
 
 1 Vide Appendix H, 
 
 C 
 
34 
 
 ENSILAGE: ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 THE MERTON EWES. 
 
 The Merton flock, which consists of 350 ewes, has a daily allow- 
 ance of ensilage. In December we began giving the ewes, which 
 were fed on park-land all through the autumn, a mixture of grass 
 ensilage and hay chaff. 
 
 They have done remarkably well — so well indeed that there has 
 been no case of bad lambing, and an unwonted absence of all 
 fatality. Never in my experience were we so successful or fortunate, 
 in whichever way the fact may be regarded. 
 
 It is true that during the early part of the season the weather 
 was favourable, but that is not in itself sufficient to account for a 
 complete immunity from every kind of sickness, quite unprece- 
 dented in the flock. 
 
 I ought, perhaps, to mention that in former years it has been our 
 practice to give a liberal daily allowance of a mixture of good hay 
 chaff and fresh bran, at the rate of six bushels of the former to 
 two of the latter ; but this year we have dispensed with bran 
 altogether. 
 
 It is also worthy of remark that when we did give bran the ewes 
 picked it out as much as possible from the coarser parts of the chaff ; 
 but now they eat the chaff up perfectly clean. This is apparently 
 owing to its being flavoured with ensilage. 
 
 The ewes are abundantly furnished with milk, and the satisfac- 
 tory way in which they perform the duties of maternity is shown by 
 the healthy and lively condition of their lambs. 
 
 Some persons might, perhaps, think that while ewes and lean sheep 
 thus eat grass ensilage, it would not be as acceptable to animals in a 
 higher condition, accustomed to a richer kind of food. 
 
 We are in a position to prove that any such suspicion is ground- 
 less. 
 
 Our Exhibition sheep last year were fed on ensilage mixed with 
 other food. They not only liked it and throve upon it, but our first 
 prize Southdown wethers at Smithfield were the heaviest pen of 
 their age and breed ever exhibited. 
 
 I am not prepared to ascribe this increased size solely to the 
 virtues of ensilage. I merely state it as an interesting coincidence. 
 The sheep had an ensilage mixture, except in the summer months, 
 from the time they were eight months old, and were throughout 
 unexceptionally healthy. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 35 
 
 HORSES. 
 
 Of horses fed on ensilage my experience is confined to those 
 employed on our Home Farm. 
 
 In the last two years we have given them ensilage with barley 
 straw chaff, and dispensed with bran, while continuing the usual 
 allowance of oats. They have been and are remarkably healthy, as 
 the veterinary surgeon knows to his disadvantage. 
 
 An interesting piece of evidence of the value of ensilage for 
 horse-feeding purposes is given in the following extract from the 
 return by Mr. John A. Hardy, Heyford Hills, Weedon : — ‘My 
 plough horses are very fond of the ensilage ; also my carriage nag, 
 and a young thoroughbred horse I have, bred by Lord Spencer. 
 They get some every day with their chaff. All do well, and I find 
 it a great saving in bran, in spice, and brewer’s grains. My farm 
 horses do not require any bran mashes now. All the animals have 
 soft skins. I wish I had double the quantity, and will have to be 
 careful to make it spin out till May.’ 
 
 Lord Tollemache also gives a limited quantity of ensilage to his 
 carriage horses, and finds that it suits them well. 
 
 CASK-MADE ENSILAGE. 
 
 For the sake of farmers in the low-lying Fen-lands of Norfolk, 
 Cambridgeshire, and elsewhere, I ought not to pass over a particular 
 set of experiments on which we entered, with the object of ascer- 
 taining if it is not possible to turn to better account than at present 
 the rich crops of brank, Italian rye grass, and similar fodder which 
 are grown on these lands. 
 
 What an advantage it would be to them to be able to provide the 
 cowkeepers of London and the large towns with the means of pro- 
 viding grass-milk and butter during the winter season ! And there is 
 no reason why they should not do this. 
 
 Two years ago we put a quantity of chaffed grass and other 
 material into casks, ramming it down compactly, and weighting it 
 and covering it with bran, as in the silo. The result was so satis- 
 factory that last year we extended the experiment. 
 
 The casks, which were of various sizes, were filled at different 
 
36 
 
 ENSILAGE : ITS INFLUENCE 
 
 times between July and September; an operation easily, economically, 
 and expeditiously performed. 
 
 The ensiled material consisted of maize, oats, brank, spurrey, and 
 common grass. 
 
 When opened in the present year it was all sound and good. 
 
 Where railway facilities exist it should be possible to develop a 
 profitable trade in such cask-made ensilage. If it pays the Great 
 Eastern Railway Company to convey sea water in small casks at a 
 nominal charge merely for domestic purposes, surely this and other 
 companies would willingly carry and deliver these ensilage casks to 
 cowkeepers at a reasonable rate. 
 
 Ensilage thus made and stored would also be an undoubted boon 
 on board steamships carrying cows for the production of milk during 
 a voyage. 
 
 A sixty- gallon cask, such as we used amongst others at Merton, 
 will contain thirty-one stones of ensilage ; or a quantity sufficient, 
 with a little hay or hay chaff, and maize meal, to support a cow nine 
 or ten days. An animal so fed would require much less water than 
 if given only dry food — a most important consideration on board ship. 
 
 Of course care must be taken that the cask is air-tight. This 
 may be secured by bringing a hanging-lid and clasp-fastening into 
 use immediately after compression, whatever mechanical appliance be 
 used in subjecting the contents to necessary pressure. 
 
 There is, therefore, no doubt that on well-conducted principles, 
 with the aid of artificial pressure, crops may be ensiled in casks avail- 
 able for the use of cowkeepers, resident in large towns. 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 I have now endeavoured to support by facts and reasoning the 
 proposition that Ensilage is destined to exert considerable influence 
 on British Agriculture. It only remains to express my regret that 
 it has been impossible for me, by further condensing the material, to 
 reduce my demand upon your patience. 
 
 A powerful stimulus will be given to the Ensilage movement by 
 this influential assemblage, honoured as it has been by the gracious 
 presence of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. 
 
 We are deeply sensible of, and. grateful for, the interest which 
 His Royal Highness at all times manifests in the welfare of agri- 
 culture. 
 
UPON BRITISH AGRICULTURE. 
 
 37 
 
 I am confident that within these walls, and in the country beyond 
 them, there will be a general feeling of gratitude to His Royal High- 
 ness for having presided here this evening. He has done this, we 
 feel, not only by reason of that public spirit, which, as Prince of 
 Wales, he brings to bear upon every useful and deserving national 
 enterprise, but from sympathy with a struggling yet never more im- 
 portant industry, and as a generous friend to the great agricultural 
 community of this kingdom. 
 
 VOTES OF THANKS. 
 
 Sir Trevor Lawrence, M.P. : May it please your Royal Highness, 
 my lords, ladies, and gentlemen. — I am sure that I shall carry with me 
 the unanimous assent of this crowded audience, when I venture to pro- 
 pose to the Lecturer, Mr. Woods, a very hearty vote of thanks for the 
 lecture that he has delivered to us. It would be impossible, it appears to 
 me, to have described in a clearer, fuller, and more interesting way, the 
 very important subject that he has chosen to bring before us — a 
 subject which, I venture to think, he has treated with a fulness of 
 knowledge and a wealth of illustration which leaves nothing to be 
 desired. So much that he has brought before us will probably be 
 new to agriculturists who have no knowledge of ensilage that I 
 should not venture, if even I were an agriculturist, to offer any criticism 
 upon it ; but if now, after a long period of loss and depression, there 
 is at last opening before the farmers of this country some hope of, 
 by new and improved methods, battling with and overcoming the ob- 
 stinacy of the elements, then I think a very great debt of gratitude will 
 be owing by the agriculturists of this country to Mr. Woods, to Lord Wal- 
 singham, and all who have taken an interest in bringing this new process 
 before the public. 
 
 The Prince of Wales : A vote of thanks has been proposed to Mr. 
 Woods. I feel sure I need hardly put it. We shall all unanimously agree 
 to it. 
 
 Mr. Woods: May it please your Royal Highness, my lords, ladies, 
 and gentlemen. — I beg to offer you my best thanks briefly, but most 
 sincerely, for the high honour you have been pleased to confer upon me 
 in according me this proof of your approval of my humble efforts this 
 evening. I am especially indebted to His Royal Highness the Prince of 
 Wales for his great condescension in conveying the vote of thanks so 
 kindly proposed by Sir Trevor Lawrence. I can only hope that as the 
 subject of ensilage becomes better understood, many of the difficulties by 
 which the agriculture of the United Kingdom is now so heavily weighted 
 may disappear, and that there may yet be in store for the British farmer 
 brighter and better times. 
 
38 
 
 ENSILAGE. 
 
 The Earl of Aberdeen : May it please your Royal Highness, I have 
 the pleasure to give utterance to those feelings of grateful appreciation by 
 which your Royal Highness’s presidency on this occasion is regarded not 
 only by this large and influential audience, but, as Mr. Woods has so well 
 said, by agriculturists at large. It is not necessary for me to allude to 
 the immense beneficial influence of your Royal Highness, owing to the 
 great practical interest which your Royal Highness takes in agriculture, 
 in its widest sense, and I feel sure that the expression of our great 
 indebtedness to your Royal Highness will be received by this meeting 
 with grateful acclamation. I beg to propose to your Royal Highness a 
 grateful vote of thanks for presiding on this occasion. 
 
 The vote was carried by acclamation. 
 
 The Prince of Wales : My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I wish 
 to return my hearty and sincere thanks for the cordial reception you have 
 been good enough to give me to-night. The duties you have conferred upon 
 me in making me your chairman to-night have, in place of being onerous 
 and difficult, been not only very light but have been very pleasant, for I 
 have had the advantage of listening to the most interesting and exhaus- 
 tive lecture upon ensilage which Mr. Woods has delivered. I cannot 
 claim to have gone thoroughly into this most important and interesting 
 subject at any depth. I have, however, some acquaintance with it, be- 
 cause some sixteen months ago, when on a visit to my friend Lord Wal- 
 singham, at Merton, questions in connection with this subject of ensilage 
 were brought under my notice, and my attention was then for the first 
 time drawn to the subject. As to the future, it is of course, impossible 
 to foresee to what extent ensilage may be carried out, but I am convinced 
 from what we have heard this evening from the lips of Mr. Woods, 
 that those who are moving in this subject are dealing with one of very 
 great importance, and I am at all events assured that we ought to be very 
 much indebted to Mr. Woods and to Lord Walsingham for giving very 
 careful trial to what may prove in future years the means of rendering 
 very great and valuable services to agriculturists. Most cordially do I 
 endorse the remarks which fell from Sir Trevor Lawrence, that even now, 
 after the hard times which the farming interests of this country have 
 suffered for some years, there is a prospect of the great interests which 
 are involved in the agricultural question having a brighter future before 
 them, and that a new gleam of light may be thrown upon their fortunes 
 by the successful carrying out of this new experiment in agriculture — this 
 question of ensilage. Most cordially and sincerely do I hope the ex- 
 periments which have been made, and their results, may be of advantage 
 to the agricultural community. I thank you again for your kind welcome 
 of me to-night, and again congratulate Mr. Woods upon his most excel- 
 lent and interesting lecture. 
 
APPENDIX A. 
 
 39 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 GRASS. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF MAKING INTO ENSILAGE. 
 
 Value of Ensiled Grass. 
 
 I acre of grass weighed I2| tons, and produced 12 tons of ensilage, 
 value 26s. 8d. per ton, being one-third value of hay at 4/. per 
 
 ton ........ 
 
 Cost of Making into Ensilage . 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Cutting, 6 s. ; gathering, is. 2 d. ; pitching, ij. lod. ; 
 
 loading, lid. . , . . . o 9 11 
 
 Raking, 6d. ; driving, u. 5 d. ; horse and boy lever 
 
 raking, is. id. . . . . .030 
 
 Horses for carting, lit. 2d. ; engine driver, is. 5 d. ; 
 
 man feeding cutter, is. $d. . . . . o 14 o 
 
 Unloading and yelming, 3^. 7 d . ; tilling bags, 2 s. 5 d. ; 
 
 carrying to silo, 3J. 7 d. . . . *097 
 
 Treading in silo, 4^. 10 d . ; salt, 2 s. 6 d. ; horse and boy 
 carting water, 2s. 2d. . . . .096 
 
 Use of engine and cutter, 12 s . ; rent and tithe, it. 15J. 2 7 o 
 
 Coal, oil, files, &c., 3J. 9^. . . . • ° 3 9 
 
 Interest on cost of barn silo at 61 . 12 s. 4 d. per cent, as 
 charged by the Lands Improvement Company = 
 per ton= 12 tons at 8 d. per ton . . .080 
 
 5 4 9 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 16 o o 
 
 Nett value of ensiled grass per acre . 
 
 !0 15 3 
 
40 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 HA V 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF MAKING. 
 
 i acre of grass weighed I2| tons, and produced 2 tons 7 cwt. of 
 hay at 4/. per ton ...... 
 
 Cost of Making. 
 
 Cutting, 6 s. ; strewing, making, and cocking, 5x. 6 d. 
 
 Throwing out and getting ready to pitch, 9 d. ; pitch- 
 ing, 9 d. ..... . 
 
 Loading, 6 d . ; drivers, 6 d. ; raking behind pitchers, 6 d. 
 
 Horse and boy raking, 9 d. ; horse leader, id. ; horses 
 carting, 3X. 6 d. ..... 
 
 Stacking, ix. 6 d. ; horse and boy for elevator, yd.; use 
 of elevator, Sd. ..... 
 
 Thatching, 7 d . : depreciation of straw used for thatch- 
 ing, 9 d. ..... . 
 
 Carting water for thatching, 3 d. . . . 
 
 Engine driver and feeder, 10^. ; unloading and yelm- 
 ing, lx. I \d. ..... 
 
 Filling chaff, lx. i\d, : horses carting chaff and 
 
 water, 2x. . 
 
 Use of engine and cutter, 3X. 9 d. ; coal, oil, &c., ix. 2 a. ; 
 rent and tithe, ll. 15X. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 on 6 
 
 016 
 
 016 
 
 044 
 
 029 
 
 o 1 4 
 
 003 
 
 020 
 
 0 3 
 
 1 19 11 
 
 Nett value of hay per acre . 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 980 
 
 382 
 5 19 10 
 
 ENSILED GRASS v. HA V. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE OF GRASS MADE INTO ENSILAGE. 
 
 £ s • d. £ s • d. 
 
 i acre of grass weighed I2| tons, and produced 12 tons 
 of ensilage, value 26x. Sd. per ton, being one-third 
 value of hay at 4/. per ton . . . . 16 o o 
 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cutting, carting, chaffing, 
 filling silo, and all other expenses, including interest 
 on cost of barn silo . . . . *549 
 
 10 15 3 
 
 Value of One Acre of Grass made into Hay. 
 
 1 acre of grass weighed I2| tons, and produced 2 tons 
 7 cwt. of hay at 4/. per ton . . . .980 
 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cutting, carting, making 
 
 stacking, and chaffing . . . .382 
 
 5 19 10 
 
 Balance in favour of ensilage . . . .4155 
 
APPENDIX B. 
 
 4i 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 ENSILED BLANK 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF GROWING AND MAKING INTO 
 ENSILAGE. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 I acre of brank cut green weighed tons, and produced 8 tons of 
 ensilage, value 26 s. 8 d. per ton, being one-third value of hay 
 at 4/. per ton . . . . . . . 10 13 4 
 
 Cost of Growing and Making into Ensilage. 
 
 Cultivation : 
 
 1 ploughing, js. 6 d. ; 2 harrowings, 3 horses, is. 4 d. ; 
 
 I harrowing, 2 horses, 6 d. .... 
 
 1 rolling, 6 d. ; drilling, ij. 6 d. ; seed, 12s. ; 4 cvvts. 
 dissolved bones, it. 8 s. 
 
 Cat ting and sowing dissolved bones, lod. . . . 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 094 
 
 220 
 0 o 10 
 
 Making into Ensilage, &c. : 
 
 Cutting, 4 s. 6 d. ; gathering, 6 d. ; pitching, is. 4 d. ; 
 
 loading, 8d. . . . . . .070 
 
 Raking, 9 d. ; drivers, u. ; horse and lad raking, ij. yd. 034 
 Horses carting, 8 s. ; engine driver, ij. ; man feeding 
 
 cutter, is. . . . . . o 10 o 
 
 Unloading and yelming, 2s. yd. ; filling bags, ij. 8d. . 043 
 
 Carrying to silo, 2r. yd. ; treading in silo, 3.?. 5 d. ; salt, 
 
 1 s. 8d. . . . . . .078 
 
 Horse and lad carting water, ij. yd. ; use of engine and 
 
 cutter, 8 s. *]d. . . . . 0 10 2 
 
 Rent and tithe, 15J. ; coal, oil, files, &c ,2 s. 8 d. . 0178 
 
 Interest on cost of barn silo, at 61 . 12 s. 1 \d . per cent, as 
 charged by the Lands Improvement Company = 8 d. 
 per ton = 8 tons at 8 d. . . . .054 
 
 5 >7 7 
 
 Nett value of ensiled brank per acre . 
 
 4 15 9 
 
42 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 HARVESTED BRANK. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF CULTIVATION, ETC. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 i acre of brank producing 4 quarters at 32J. per qr. 61 . 8 s. ; 
 
 value of straw, ioj. . . . . . . 6 18 o 
 
 Cost of Cultivating , Harvesting , &c. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 1 ploughing, 7 s. 6c/.; 2 harrowings, 3 horses, is. 4 d.; 
 
 1 harrowing, 2 horses, 6 d. . . . .094 
 
 1 rolling, 6 d.; drilling, is. 6 d. ; seed, 12s. ; 4 cwt. 
 
 dissolved bones, it. 8j-. . . . .220 
 
 Carting and sowing dissolved bones, 10 d. . . o o 10 
 
 Cutting, 4J 1 . 6 d. ; gathering, 6 d. ; pitching, 6 d. ; horses 
 
 for carting, 2 s. 6 d. . . . .080 
 
 Loading, 4 d. ; raking, 3c/. ; drivers, 3 d. ; horse and 
 
 lad raking, 8 d. . . . . .016 
 
 Stacking, 1 s. 2d. ; horse and boy for elevator, 4 d . ; wear 
 
 of elevator, 6 d. . . . . .020 
 
 Thatching, is. ; depreciation of straw used for thatch- 
 ing, iod. . . . . . . o 1 10 
 
 Thrashing, dressing, and delivering to market, ioj. . o 10 o 
 Rent and tithe, 15J. . . . . . o 15 o 
 
 4 10 6 
 
 Nett value of harvested brank per acre . . 276 
 
 ENSILED BRANK v. HARVESTED BRANK. 
 
 Value of One Acre of Ensiled Brank. 
 
 I acre of brank cut green weighed 8^ tons, and pro- 
 duced 8 tons of ensilage, value 26^. 8 d. per ton, being 
 one-third value of hay at 4/. per ton . 
 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cultivation, manure, 
 seed, cutting, carting, chaffing, and all other expenses, 
 including interest on cost of barn silo 
 
 Value of One Acre of Harvested Brank. 
 
 I acre producing 4 quarters of brank at 32J. per qr., 
 including value of straw IOJ. . . . , 6180 
 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cultivation, manure, 
 seed, cutting, carting, stacking, thatching, thrashing, 
 and delivering to market . . , . 4 10 6 
 
 276 
 
 Balance in favour of ensilage . . . 283 
 
 £ s. d. £ s. d. 
 
 10 13 4 
 
 5 17 7 
 
 4 15 9 
 
APPENDIX C. 
 
 43 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 ENSILED OATS . 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF GROWING AND MAKING INTO ENSILAGE. 
 
 £, s d. 
 
 I acre of oats cut green weighed 13 tons, and produced 12 tons of 
 ensilage, value 2 6s. 8d. per ton, being one-third value of hay at 
 
 4/. per ton ........ 
 
 16 0 0 
 
 Cost of Growing and Making into Ensilage. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Cultivation : 
 
 1 ploughing, 7 s. 6d. ; 2 harrowings, 3 horses, Ij. 4 i. j 
 
 1 harrowing, 2 horses, 6d. . . .094 
 
 Drilling, is. 6d. ; rolling, 6d. ; seed, I is. ; 4 cwt. rape 
 cake, 24 s. . . . . . . 1 17 0 
 
 Carting and sowing cake, iod. ; bird keeping, 9 d. ; 
 
 weeding, 6d. . . , . .021 
 
 Making into Ensilage, &c. : 
 
 Cutting, 4 s. (id. ; tying, 3s. ; pitching, 2 s. 5 d. ; load- 
 ing, ij. gd. . . . . . . 0118 
 
 Driving, is. 5 d. ; horse and lad raking, 2s. 2d. ; horses 
 
 cariing, \\s. 2d. . , . . . 0 14 9 
 
 Engine driver, ij - . $d. ; man feeding cutter, is. 5 d. . 0 2 10 
 
 Unloading and yelming, 3 s. *jd. ; filling bags, 2s. 5 d. ; 
 
 carrying to silo, 3s. id. . . . .097 
 
 Treading in silo, 4 s. 10 d. ; lad and horse carting water 
 
 to engine, 2s. 2d. . . . .070 
 
 Use of engine and chaff-cutter, I2J. ; salt, 2s. 6d. . 0146 
 
 Coal, oil, files, &c., 3s. 9 d. ; rent and tithe, i8j. . 119 
 
 Interest on cost of barn silo at 61 . I2J - . 4 d. per cent, as 
 charged by the Lands Improvement Company = 8 d. 
 per ton = 12 tons at 8d. . . . .080 
 
 6 18 6 
 
 Nett value of ensiled green oats per acre 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 1 ^ 
 
44 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 HARVESTED OATS. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF CULTIVATION, ETC. 
 
 £ S. d. 
 
 I acre, producing 7 quarters of oats at 22 s. per quarter, 7/. 14.L ; value 
 of 1 acre oat straw, 30.L . . . . . .940 
 
 Cost of Cultivating , Harvesting, 
 
 ore. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 1 ploughing, 7 s. 6 d. ; 2 harrowings, 3 horses, Ij. 4 d. ; 
 1 harrowing, 2 horses, 6 d. . 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 Drilling, u. 6 d. ; rolling, 6 d. ; seed, 1 ij. j 4 cwts. rape 
 cake, 24 s. ...... 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 0 
 
 Carting and sowing cake, 10 d. ; bird-keeping, 9 d. ; 
 weeding, 6 d. ...... 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 j 
 
 Cutting, 4 s. 9 d. ; tying, 3s . ; horses for carting, 3^. 9 d. ; 
 pitching, 9 d. . 
 
 0 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 Loading, 6 d. ; raking, 3 d. ; drivers, 4 d. ; horse and 
 lad raking, 8d. . 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 Stacking, is. 8 d. ; horse and boy for elevator, 6 d. ; 
 wear of elevator, 6 d. . 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 Thatching, is. ; depreciation of straw used for thatch- 
 ing, icd. ...... 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 Thrashing, dressing, and delivering to market, 17^. 6 d. 
 
 0 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 Rent and tithe, i8j. . 
 
 0 
 
 18 
 
 0 
 
 Nett value of harvested oats per acre 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 5 2 5 
 
 4 1 7 
 
 ENSILED OATS v. HARVESTED OATS. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE OF GREEN OATS MADE INTO ENSILAGE. 
 
 £ s. d. £ s. d. 
 
 I acre of oats, cut green, weighed 13 tons, and pro- 
 duced 12 tons of ensilage, value 26 s. 8d. per ton, being 
 one-third value of hay at 4/. per ton . . . 16 0 o 
 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cultivation, manure, seed, 
 cutting, carting, chaffing, and all other expenses, in- 
 cluding interest on cost of barn silo . . . 6 18 6 
 
 9 1 6 
 
 Value of one Acre of Harvested Oats. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 I acre, producing 7 quarters of oats at 22 s. per quarter, 
 
 including value of straw, 30^. . . .940 
 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cultivation, manure, seed, 
 cutting, carting, stacking, thatching, thrashing, and 
 delivering to market . . . . .525 
 
 4 1 7 
 
 Balance in favour of ensilage 
 
 4 19 11 
 
APPENDIX D. 
 
 45 
 
 APPENDIX D. 
 
 SPURREY (SPERGUZA ARVENSIS). 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF GROWING AND MAKING INTO ENSILAGE. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 I acre of spurrey weighed 5| tons, and produced 5 tons of ensilage, 
 value 26 s. 8 d. per ton, being one-third value of hay at 4/. per 
 
 ton . . . . . . . .6134 
 
 Cost of Growing and Making into Ensilage. 
 
 Cultivation • 
 
 1 ploughing, 7 s. 6 d. ; 2 harrowings, 2 horses, is. 
 
 Drilling, i.r. ; seed, 14 lbs. at 5^. = 5^. iod. ; 
 rolling, is. 
 
 Making into Ensilage, &c. : 
 
 T\f owing, 2 s ’ > gathering, iod. ; pitching, gd. load- 
 ing, 4//. ..... 
 
 Drivers, jd. ; horse labour for carting, 4 s. 8 d. 
 
 Engine driver, "jd. ; man for feeding chaff cutter, 7 d. . 
 
 Lad and horse for carting water, 11^. ; unloading, 6 d. 
 
 Yelming, ij. ; filling bags, is. ; carrying to silo, 
 IJ. 6 d. ; salt, I.r. 
 
 Treading in silo, 2 s. ; use of engine and cutter, 5^. 
 
 Coal, oil, files, &c., ij. 7 d. ; rent of land, 3^. . 
 
 Interest on cost of bam silo at 6/. 12^. 4 d. per cent., 
 as charged by the Lands Improvement Company 
 = 8 d. per ton = 5 tons at 8 d. per ton 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 086 
 o 7 10 
 
 o 4 1 1 
 
 ° 5 3 
 
 o 1 2 
 
 O I 5 
 
 046 
 070 
 
 047 
 
 034 
 
 286 
 
 Nett value of ensiled spurrey per acre . . 4410 
 
46 
 
 APPENDIX E. 
 
 APPENDIX E. 
 
 MAIZE. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE WITH COST OF GROWING AND MAKING INTO 
 
 Value of Ensiled Maize. 
 
 I acre of maize, cut green, weighed 28 tons, and produced 26 tons 
 of ensilage, value 26s. 2>d. per ton, being one-third value of hay at 
 
 4/. per ton ........ 
 
 Cost of Growing a?id Making into Ensilage. 
 
 Cultivation : 
 
 2 ploughings, 16 s. ; 3 harro wings, 3 horses, 2s. ; 2 
 rollings, 1 horse, is. . 
 
 2 harrowings, 2 horses, it. ; 15 loads manure at 4^. per 
 load, 6o.y. ...... 
 
 Filling, carting, and spreading manure, 19J. . 
 
 Drilling, is. 6d. ; seed (6 pecks), 6s. 6d. ; hoeing, 5-r. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 o 19 0 
 
 3 1 o 
 o 19 o 
 O 13 o 
 
 Making into Ensilage, &c. : 
 
 5 men, reaping, tying, pitching, and loading, 15J. . 0 15 o 
 
 1 lad driving, is. 6 d. ; 4 horses carting, 20J. . . 1 1 6 
 
 1 man driving engine, 3-r. 6 d. ; 1 man feeding cutter, 
 
 3 s. 6 d. . . . . . .070 
 
 2 men yelming and unloading, 6s. ; 2 men filling 
 
 bags, 6s. . . . . . . 0 12 o 
 
 3 men carrying to silo, 9 s. ; 4 men treading in silo, 12 s. 1 1 o 
 
 I lad, ij. 6d., and 1 horse, carting water to engine, 4J. 056 
 
 Salt used at the rate of 1 lb. to the cwt. of maize chaff 050 
 Use of engine and chaff-cutter, 30 s. . . . 1 10 o 
 
 Coal, oil, files, &c., 9^. 6 d. . . . .096 
 
 Rent and tithe, 28 s. . . . . .180 
 
 Interest on cost of barn silo at 61 . 1 2 s. 4 d. per cent. , 
 
 as charged by the Lands Improvement Company 
 = Sd. per ton = 26 tons at 8^. per ton . . 0174 
 
 Nett value of ensiled maize per acre . 
 
 ENSILAGE. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 34 13 4 
 
 14 3 10 
 
 20 9 6 
 
APPENDIX F. 
 
 47 
 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 SWEDES. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE, COST OF CULTIVATION, ETC. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 i acre of swedes, producing 18 tons, at 15.L per ton . . 13 10 o 
 
 Cost of Cultivating and Preparing for Stock. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 2 ploughings, i6j. ; 3 har rowings, 3 horses, 2s. 
 
 0 
 
 18 
 
 0 
 
 2 harrowings, 2 horses, is. ; 2 rollings, 1 horse, is. ; . 
 
 
 
 
 drilling, 9 d. ...... 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 Seed, ij. 6d. ; 15 loads manure at 4^. per load, 60s. 
 
 3 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 Filling, carting, and spreading manure, 19J. . 
 
 0 
 
 19 
 
 0 
 
 2 horse hoeings, 2 s. ; hand hoeing, Js. 6d. 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 Pulling, topping, and cleaning, 5-r. 6 d . ; loading, 3 c. 
 
 0 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Carting, 1 5 j. ; drivers, 3-f. ; packing, 2 s. 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 Grinding ready for stock, I2.T. . . * 
 
 0 
 
 12 
 
 0 
 
 Rent and tithe, 28s. ..... 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 — 8 19 3 
 
 Nett value of swedes per acre . 
 
 « 
 
 
 • 4 10 9 
 
 ENSILED MAIZE v. SWEDES. 
 
 VALUE OF ONE ACRE OF GREEN MAIZE MADE INTO ENSILAGE. 
 
 £ 5. d £ s. d. 
 
 34 13 4 
 
 14 3 10 
 
 20 9 6 
 
 Value of one acre of Swedes grown in the same field by the 
 side of the Maize. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 1 acre of swedes, producing 18 tons, at 15^. per ton . 13 10 0 
 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cultivation, manure, seed, 
 hoeing, cleaning, carting, and getting ready for stock 8 19 3 
 
 4 10 9 
 
 Balance in favour of ensilage . . . 15 18 9 
 
 1 acre of maize, cut green, weighed 28 tons, and pro- 
 duced 26 tons of ensilage, value 2 6s. Sd. per ton, being 
 one-third value of hay at 4 1. per ton 
 Deduct rent and tithe, cost of cultivation, manure, 
 seed, cutting, carting, chaffing, filling silo, and all 
 other expenses, including interest on cost of barn silo 
 
THE MERTON HOME FARM. 
 
 ANALYSES OF ENSILED GRASSES, HAY, ETC., MADE IN THE AUTUMN OF 1883. 
 
 48 
 
 APPENDIX G. 
 
 
 
 
 
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 C ^ ^ 
 
 
 FRANCIS SUTTON, F.C.S., F.I.C., 
 
 County Analyst, and Analyst to the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, 
 
APPENDIX G. {continued). 
 
 49 
 
 At the outset I think it right to say that I have entered into no specu- 
 lation as to the exact chemical changes which occur in the ensiled 
 plants — investigations are going on which may eventually throw some 
 light on this point, especially as to the condition of the nitrogenous 
 compounds — but, in the present imperfect state of our knowledge in this 
 direction, I think it better to waive these questions and wait for more 
 evidence as to the practical feeding results. 
 
 The figures of analysis speak for themselves, but in judging of the 
 results we must look at all the materials as being in a perfectly dry state, 
 because then the comparison is clearly understood, and we see that the 
 first most convenient set of comparisons is between fresh grass, ensilage 
 made from the same grass, and hay made from the same grass. 
 
 One would, perhaps, naturally expect to find, that when the same grass 
 is taken for all these separate articles at the same time, and under the same 
 conditions, the eventual composition would be very much the same. As 
 a fact it is not so. The figures clearly show that in making grass into 
 hay there is a distinct and notable loss of nutritive matter, not in one 
 particular only, but practically in all ; for it is found that the only two 
 classes of really nutritious matters — namely, albumenoids or flesh- 
 formers; and digestible carbo-hydrates, or fat-formers — are richer by about 
 1 5 per cent, in the first case, and 7 per cent, in the latter ; the useless 
 woody fibre being increased in the hay owing to the drying process 
 which has taken place. 
 
 But the ensilage is even further improved by the process of the silo, 
 for the flesh-formers show an increase of 20 per cent., and the fat- 
 formers about 12 per cent., while the useless woody fibre is diminished 
 even as compared with the fresh grass. 
 
 It is evident, therefore, as I said in my first examination of ensilage a 
 year ago, that a ripening or partial digestive process goes on in the silo, 
 and the food so produced is so much the more assimilable to the 
 alimentary organs of the beasts fed on it ; hence they ought theoreti- 
 cally to do better on ensilage than on grass, and this, I am told, is a fact 
 beyond dispute. 
 
 Turning now from grass to the two other substances ensiled — 
 namely, spurrey and maize — we find that they differ very greatly. They 
 differ from grass, and they differ very widely from each other. Spurrey 
 and maize may, I think, be said to be exactly at the two extremes of 
 substances useful for ensilage — spurrey very rich, and maize com- 
 paratively poor in nutritious matters. But then, on the other hand, a very 
 heavy crop of maize may be grown as against a moderate weight of 
 spurrey, so that the eventual quantity of real nutrition does not differ 
 much. But there is still the same leading feature in these substances as 
 has been noticed in the case of grass— there is a constant diminution of 
 indigestible woody matter, and an increase of soluble matters, due to the 
 silo. The change is always in the same direction, and that a beneficial 
 one. Spurrey contains some actual sugar besides a very considerable 
 proportion of oil, and I look upon this material as being one of the 
 
 V 
 
50 
 
 APPENDIX G. ( continued ). 
 
 richest for conversion into ensilage. The amount of soluble flesh-formers 
 and ready formed fat is most marked, and cannot fail to be a food upon 
 which any kind of ruminant animal would grow rapidly. Of course, expe- 
 rience must prove its value in the end. At the same time, maize, which is 
 not nearly so rich, is most undoubtedly a good material for ensiling. It 
 supplies bulk, and this is an important point in the case of cattle with their 
 large area of stomach ; and even with this material we find the silo 
 renders the nutriment much more soluble — there being an increase of 
 about io per cent, in the total flesh and fat formers, and a diminution in 
 like proportion of the useless fibre, as compared with the same plant in 
 the form of fresh chaff. 
 
 GENERAL REPORT ON THE VARIOUS PLANTS 
 EXAMLNED. 
 
 Grass and Hay . — The analysis shows that there is a distinct loss of 
 nutritive matter, which takes place in the conversion of fresh grass into 
 hay. 
 
 I believe the hay was made under the most favourable circumstances, 
 because the condition was excellent, and, as the figures show, very dry. 
 
 The loss is not very great; but, if even such a loss takes place under 
 favourable circumstances, it is certain that under unfavourable conditions 
 it may be far more serious. 
 
 Swedes. — Probably this needs no remark from me, except to say that 
 the per-centage of sugar was estimated, though not shown in the analysis 
 — it amounted to 279 per cent. It will be seen that I have not separately 
 estimated the soluble and insoluble portions. With a material containing 
 so little woody fibre, I think this is unnecessary. There is no question 
 that the nutritive matter of swedes is easily assimilable as compared with 
 foods having a woody structure. 
 
 Spnrrey . — This ensiled material is, in my opinion, exceedingly 
 valuable as a somewhat concentrated food. The large proportions of 
 albumenoids and fat are especially noticeable, and I need not dilate on 
 the prominent value of these two substances in a cattle food. 
 
 The condition of the ensilage was excellent, possessing a flavour 
 peculiar to the plant, due to the development of essential oil. 
 
 It is also worthy of mention that the watery extract contained some 
 ready-formed sugar ; probably maltose, as suggested by Mr. Woodland 
 Toms. 
 
 I did not accurately estimate it, but it did not amount to 1 per cent. 
 
 There were also faint traces of alcohol. I am inclined to think that 
 this plant will be found a valuable one for growth in England. 
 
 I have seen it growing on the Continent on very poor soil, and with 
 every appearance of luxuriance, and the probability is that it may be 
 grown on many soils which are incapable of growing clover or other rich 
 qualities of grass. 
 
 Maize Chaff and Ensilage . — From a preliminary examination of these 
 two forms of maize, I was inclined to think that the process of ensiling 
 
APPENDIX G. ( continued ). 
 
 Si 
 
 was hardly remunerative, but a further insight into them has altered my 
 opinion. 
 
 Precisely the same results have come out here as occurred in the case 
 of the grass ensilages analysed by me last year ; that is to say, there is an 
 undoubted modification of the constituents due to the slow fermentation 
 in the silo, and all in the direction of producing soluble and assimilable 
 food. 
 
 It cannot be disputed that maize, as grown here, is weak in nitrogen- 
 ous and saccharine constituents as compared, for instance, with rich 
 grasses or clover ; but, on the other hand, the enormous weight of the 
 crop which may be grown acts as a compensation, and it stands to reason 
 that the soil cannot be expected to furnish the same proportion of active 
 constituents as would be the case with a crop of half or one-third the 
 weight. 
 
 The maize ensilage was thoroughly sound, and has evidently been 
 well managed in the silo. 
 
 It will not probably be thought out of place here for me to give some 
 of my ideas on the work of the silo as gathered from these examinations. 
 It is evident to me that in order to produce the full beneficial effect a 
 great amount of care is required in the management of the process. The 
 want of this no doubt has led to many erroneous opinions as to the value 
 of ensilage. 
 
 We may look upon it as a fact that in a well-appointed silo the green 
 material put into it goes on in a healthy living state, but with slower 
 changes than occur while growing. The material only really dies when 
 it decays, and decay will not take place so long as active oxygen is kept 
 out of the mass. This oxygen, or in other words atmospheric air, is kept 
 from permeating the substance by reason of the slow but constant evolu- 
 tion of carbonic acid gas, and by a sufficient pressure being put upon the 
 material to squeeze out as much air as possible in the first instance. 
 
 It is found that beer of very weak alcoholic strength may be kept 
 almost indefinitely by a constant pressure of carbonic acid upon its sur- 
 face. Another adjunct towards the preservation of ensilage is low tem- 
 perature. Experience must prove what range of temperature is most 
 beneficial for the due perfection of result ; but I feel certain that when 
 their proper conditions are fulfilled the change which takes place in the 
 silo is of the character mentioned by me in my previous report on grass 
 ensilage — namely, a partial digestion. The most cursory examination of 
 the juices of the fresh plant, and the juices of the same plant when pro- 
 perly ensiled, will show that a decided change has taken place — 
 difficult to define, perhaps, but nevertheless of a healthy living character, 
 and I believe in a much better condition for immediate assimilation by 
 the animal economy. 
 
 I will summarise here what I consider to be the chief advantages 
 derivable from the process of ensiling such green crops as may be 
 safely so treated as compared with drying them in the form of hay. 
 
 It is, unfortunately, too well known that of late years especially the 
 
52 
 
 APPENDIX G. (continued). 
 
 nutritious qualities of the various grasses made into hay in this country 
 have been seriously damaged. 
 
 The long periods of exposure to wet, and the increased mechanical 
 treatment the hay has received, have resulted in the bruising of its texture, 
 so that the vital juices have been washed out ; besides which the finer 
 portions containing the most nutriment have been detached and lost, and 
 a further deterioration has arisen from undue fermentation in the stack, 
 or even in the field itself. 
 
 The analysis of the specimen of hay above mentioned shows that the 
 whole of the nutritive properties have been preserved intact ; but it also 
 shows that there exists in it a very large per-centage of useless woody 
 matter which has to be laboriously masticated and ruminated before the 
 valuable constituents are extracted. This all means muscular work 
 which must necessarily consume a large proportion of the total energy 
 of the food before a particle of permanent fat or flesh is laid on the 
 animal. The poorer the quality of hay, the greater the amount of useless 
 work occasioned. Experiment has proved that animals fed on inferior 
 clover hay not only do not gain weight, but actually lose it, although they 
 had no muscular work to do other than that which was involved in 
 feeding. 
 
 In the case of well-made ensilage, we always find that the proportion 
 of indigestible woody matter is reduced to the lowest point, while at the 
 same time occurs the same beneficial change which takes place in hay — 
 namely, the development of the aromatic constituents of the plant, which 
 certainly renders the food palatable, and, it may be, more nutritious. But 
 by far the most valuable feature in ensilage is the preservation of the 
 juices of the plant in a soluble form, and apparently even in a more 
 nutritious condition than they exist in the fresh plant. It must be con- 
 ceded, I think, that if even the silo only enabled the stock-feeder to pre- 
 serve the food in as good a state as when fresh, it would be an 
 inestimable boon ; but a comparison of the analytical results between 
 fresh and ensiled grass and maize points to a still further gain in the 
 improved condition of the material, so far as its assimilable properties 
 are concerned. 
 
 These conclusions are somewhat theoretical on my part, but experience 
 will prove whether they are entitled to belief. 
 
 It may be urged that hay has the advantage over ensilage in that a 
 considerable portion of actual sugar is produced, but on the other hand it 
 is very difficult to prove that this is a positive advantage, knowing as we 
 do how the animal economy is able quickly to' convert soluble carbo- 
 hydrates into sugar or its equivalent, while we are sure that in carefully- 
 made ensilage no practical loss of these important compounds occurs such 
 as is constantly taking place in badly-made hay. 
 
 FRANCIS SUTTON, F.I.C., F.C.S., 
 
 Author of ‘ Handbook of Volumetric Analysis? dnc. 
 
 Chemist to the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture , 
 
 Public A naly st for the County of Norfolk , &-Y. , <S~v. 
 
APPENDIX H. 
 
 S3 
 
 APPENDIX H. 
 
 RELATIVE FEEDING VALUE OF ENSILED MAIZE AND SWEDES. 
 
 Table showing Milk and Cream and Weight of Stock Results in a Trial with 7 wo 
 ‘ Cows ; one fed on Ensiled Maize, the other on Swedes. 
 
 ENSILAGE. SWEDES. 
 
 LADY MANCHESTER. 
 
 SPARK 4 th. 
 
 Date 
 
 1884 
 
 Quan- 
 tity of 
 Milk 
 
 Degrees 
 
 of 
 
 Quantity and 
 description of 
 
 Date 
 
 1884 
 
 Quan- 
 tity of 
 Milk 
 
 Degrees 
 
 of 
 
 Quantity and 
 description of 
 
 Quarts 
 
 Cream 
 
 Food given 
 
 Quarts 
 
 Cream 
 
 Food given 
 
 Jan. 10 
 
 ii£ 
 
 11° 
 
 
 Jan. 
 
 10 
 
 1 1 
 
 12° 
 
 
 „ 1 1 
 
 12 
 
 12° 
 
 
 | yy 
 
 1 1 
 
 12 
 
 12° 
 
 
 ,, 12 
 
 13 
 
 12° 
 
 
 yy 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 13 ° 
 
 
 „ 13 
 
 14 
 
 1 3 ° 
 
 
 yy 
 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 i 3 ° 
 
 
 „ 14 
 
 14 
 
 14 0 
 
 
 „ 
 
 14 
 
 l2 h 
 
 , 3 ° 
 
 
 » 15 
 
 14 
 
 14 ° 
 
 
 yy 
 
 15 
 
 12 
 
 13 ° 
 
 
 ,, 16 
 
 14 
 
 14 0 
 
 
 yy 
 
 16 ! 
 
 12 
 
 12° 
 
 
 >> 17 
 
 14 
 
 1 4 0 
 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 12° 
 
 
 ,, 18 
 
 Hi 
 
 1 4 0 
 
 
 ” 
 
 18 
 
 12 
 
 12° 
 
 7olbs.Swedes 
 
 » 19 
 
 I4 t 
 
 1 4 0 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 19 
 
 12 
 
 1 3 ° 
 
 10 lbs. Straw 
 
 ,, 20 
 ,, 21 
 „ 22 
 
 „ 23 
 
 „ 24 
 » 25 
 ,, 26 
 „ 27 
 
 lAb 
 
 Hi 
 
 Hi 
 
 Hi 
 
 14 
 
 Hi 
 
 Hk 
 
 OOOOOOOO 
 
 42 lbs. Maize 
 Ensilage, 
 10 lbs. Straw 
 j~Chaft, 8 lbs. 
 
 | Maize Meal, 
 and 2 lbs. of 
 Bran per day 
 
 ?> 
 
 1 yy 
 yy 
 yy 
 yy 
 yy 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 25 
 
 26 
 
 27 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 13 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 DOOOOOOO 
 
 fOfOHMNPiMro 
 
 .Chaff, 8 lbs. 
 Maize Meal, 
 i and 2 lbs. of 
 Bran per day 
 
 „ 28 
 
 14 1 . 
 
 14 ° 
 
 
 y y 
 
 28 
 
 12 
 
 1 3 ° 
 
 
 » 29 
 
 Hi 
 
 14 0 
 
 
 yy 
 
 29 
 
 l2 i 
 
 1 3 ° 
 
 
 » 30 
 
 Hi 
 
 14 0 
 
 
 yy 
 
 30 
 
 12b 
 
 i 3 ° 
 
 
 » 3 i 
 
 *4 i 
 
 1 4 0 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 13“ 
 
 i 3 o 
 
 j 
 
 Feb. 1 
 » 2 
 
 Hi 
 
 Hi 
 
 15 ° 
 
 14 0 
 
 
 Feb. 
 
 yy 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 * 3 ° 
 
 13 ° 
 
 1 42 lbs. Maize 
 Ensilage, 
 1 10 lbs. Straw 
 
 >» 3 
 
 l 4 
 
 14 0 
 
 
 yy 
 
 3 
 
 
 13 ° 
 
 j-Chaff, 8 lbs. 
 
 »» 4 
 
 H 
 
 14 0 
 
 
 yy 
 
 4 1 
 
 15 j 
 
 J30 
 
 Maize Meal, 
 
 »> 5 
 
 14 
 
 1 4 0 
 
 
 y y 
 
 5 ; 
 
 * 5 ? 
 
 1 3 ° 
 
 1 and 2 lbs. of 
 
 1 > 6 
 
 14 1 
 
 14 0 
 
 ) 
 
 y y 
 
 6 
 
 * 5 $ 
 
 I 3 ° |_ 
 
 J Bran per day 
 
 Note. Both cows at the time of entering upon the trial were receiving a daily allowance of 
 3olhs. mixed hay and straw chaff, 6 lbs. maize meal, and 8 lbs. bran. Lady Manchester then 
 weighed 48 stones (14 lbs.) and gave 11A quarts of milk per day registering n u of cream. Spark 
 4th w eighed 36 stones f 1 4 I bs. ) and gave 11 quarts of milk, which also registered n° of cream. 
 On February 6 the weight of Lady .Manchester was 52 stones and of Spark 4th 58 stones. 
 

institute of Jlgriculture, 
 
 Session 1884. 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP 
 
 THEIR HISTORY, BREEDING, AND 
 MANAGEMENT. 
 
 A LECTURE 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY WOODS. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following Lecture was delivered before the Institute of 
 Agriculture in the Lecture Theatre of South Kensington 
 Museum, on the evening of Monday, February 25, 1884 ; the 
 Right Hon, Lord Walsingham presiding. In publishing it 
 the Author desires to record what he stated at the close of 
 the Lecture when replying to a vote of thanks proposed by 
 the noble Chairman and supported by Professor Tanner, that 
 very much of the success obtained by the Merton Flock is 
 owing to the constant sympathy and sagacious counsel which 
 he has received from Lord Walsingham throughout his 
 management. His Lordship’s liberal and earnest efforts at 
 all times to advance the interests of Agriculture were ac- 
 knowledged in most cordial terms by Mr. Henry Webb, and 
 Mr. Biddcll, M.P., in moving the thanks of the meeting to 
 the noble Lord for his kindness in having occupied the 
 Chair. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
C ONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 ORIGIN OF BREED 7 
 
 JOHN ELLMAN’S EXPERIMENTS 8 
 
 ADVANCE IN PUBLIC FAVOUR IO 
 
 JONAS WEBB’S TRIALS II 
 
 THE BABRAHAM RAM LETTINGS 12 
 
 ,, HONOURS AND SUCCESSES 12 
 
 ,, DISPERSION 13 
 
 WHAT IS A PURE-BRED SOUTHDOWN? . . . . . . . 13 
 
 THE MERTON FLOCK 14 
 
 HOW TO FORM A FLOCK — PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS 1 5 
 
 BREEDING l 6 
 
 PRACTICE AT MERTON 17 
 
 FEEDING l 8 
 
 MANAGEMENT OF FLOCK l 8 
 
 HOW TO AVERT ABORTION 1 9 
 
 LAMBING 20 
 
 STRAINING IN EWES AFTER LAMBING 22 
 
 TREATMENT OF EWES IN LAMBING 22 
 
 VALEDICTORY ADVICE 25 
 
LECTURE. 
 
 In the course of Lectures now being delivered under the authority 
 of the Institute of Agriculture, for the promotion of agricultural 
 education, the breeding and management of sheep naturally finds a 
 place, and I have been invited to speak upon that part of the subject 
 which relates to the important breed of Southdowns. It will be my 
 endeavour to give as much information as the limited time at my 
 disposal will allow on the following branches of the subject : — 
 
 (1) The history of Southdown sheep, with a description of their 
 past and present peculiarities and merits. 
 
 (2) The formation of a flock of sheep, whether of Southdown or 
 any other pure breed, and its general management. 
 
 ORIGIN OF BREED. 
 
 The Southdown breed of sheep is believed to be indigenous to 
 the Downs of Sussex. It is said by the editor of The Farmers ’ 
 Dictionary to have existed there before the Conquest. It is, no 
 doubt, one of the purest and most unmixed breeds in Britain. Little 
 seems to have been known about Southdown sheep outside the com- 
 paratively limited area in which they were kept until about two 
 hundred years ago, when (as Mr. Thomas Ellman writes) several 
 flocks on the South Downs appear to have been nearly annihilated 
 by an outbreak of small-pox, which was imported into this country 
 from Holland about that time. 
 
 The sheep which the disease spared attracted rather more notice 
 than had previously been bestowed on the breed, but it was not 
 until the latter part of the last century that they came to be much 
 esteemed. It was, in fact, Mr. Arthur Young, who in one of 
 those useful essays published about 1794, which made his name 
 famous in the agricultural world, first called public attention to 
 Southdown sheep, speaking favourably of their hardy constitution, 
 and of the fine quality and flavour of the mutton they produced. 
 
8 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP : THEIR 
 
 About the same time they were also described by other writers as 
 being speckle-faced, long and thin in the neck, high on the top of the 
 shoulders, slack in the girth, high and narrow on the loin, low at the 
 rump end with tail set on very low, sharp on the back, flat-ribbed, 
 narrow in the forequarters, and generally, though with little space 
 between their forelegs, showing a fairly good leg of mutton. As a 
 rule they were looked upon as plainly-formed, if not ugly, sheep, 
 which produced good and fine-flavoured flesh. They were small, 
 very small , as compared with the Southdowns of the present day. 
 
 JOHN E ELMAN’S EXPERIMENTS. 
 
 To Mr. John Ellman, of Glynde (the father of the late Mr. John 
 Ellman, of Landport, and Mr. Thomas Ellman, late of Beddingham), 
 will always and most deservedly belong the credit not only of bring- 
 ing Southdown sheep into more general notice, but of commencing 
 (about the year 1780) a course of valuable, well-considered, skilful, 
 and successful experiments upon them. These experiments were 
 conducted by him with slow and steady good effect during the long 
 period of more than half a century. In justice to the memory of 
 one who so earned the gratitude of sheep breeders not only in this 
 country, but in various parts of the world, I will quote to you his 
 well-founded and practical opinion as to what an improved South- 
 down sheep should be ; and I would impress upon you the desir- 
 ability of carefully studying those remarks, with which I thoroughly 
 agree, except as to two particulars which I will point out to you 
 later on. 
 
 Mr. John Ellman says, 1 £ The head should be small and hornless ; 
 the face speckled or grey, and neither too long nor too short ; the lips 
 thin, and the space between the nose and eyes narrow ; the under 
 or chop fine and thin ; the ears tolerably wide, and well covered 
 with wool, and the forehead also, and the whole space between the 
 ears well protected by it, as a defence against the fly ; the eyes full 
 and bright, but not prominent ; the orbit of the eye (the eye-cap or 
 bone) not too projecting, that it may not form a fatal obstacle in 
 lambing ; the neck of a medium length, thin towards the head, but 
 enlarging towards the shoulders, where it should be broad and 
 high, and straight in its whole course above and below ; the breast 
 should be wide, deep, and projecting forwards between the fore-legs, 
 
 1 Farmers' Dictionary , vol. ii. p. 534. 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 9 
 
 indicating a good constitution and a disposition to thrive. Corre- 
 sponding with this the shoulders should be on a level with the back, 
 and not too wide above ; they should bow outwards from the top to 
 the breast, indicating a springing rib beneath and leaving room for it ; 
 the ribs coming out horizontally from the spine and extending far 
 backward, and the last rib projecting more than the others ; the back 
 flat from the shoulders to the setting on of the tail ; the loin broad 
 and flat ; the rump long and broad ; and the tail set on high and 
 nearly on a level with the spine ; the hips wide ; the space between 
 them and the last rib on either side as narrow as possible, and the 
 ribs generally presenting a circular form like a barrel ; the belly as 
 straight as the back ; the legs neither too long nor too short ; the 
 forelegs straight from the breast to the foot, not bending in at the 
 knee, and standing far apart both before and behind ; the hocks 
 having a direction rather outward ; and the twist, or the meeting of 
 the thighs behind being particularly full ; the bones fine, yet having 
 no appearance of weakness, and the legs of a dark colour ; the belly 
 well defended with wool, and the wool coming down before and 
 behind to the knee and to the hock ; the wool short, close, curled, 
 and fine, and free from spiry projecting fibres.’ 
 
 Mr. Ellman’s description of the main points which constituted a 
 symmetrical and well-bred Southdown sheep early in the present 
 century may be accepted as the essential requirements of a good 
 Southdown sheep at the present time, with the two following ex- 
 ceptions, viz. : Speckled faces and the set-on of the tail. A speckled 
 face is very properly no longer looked upon as denoting a pure-bred 
 Southdown sheep. The face and legs should be of a nice mouse 
 colour, neither too dark nor too light, but of medium tint. In fact, 
 anything in the way of a white speck on the face or legs is now con- 
 sidered to show a defect in the purity of the blood. The other point 
 in Mr. Ellman’s description of a well-made Southdown sheep with 
 which I cannot agree is the set-on of the tail. Mr. Ellman says the 
 tail should be ‘set on high, and nearly on a level with the spine.' I 
 am of opinion that if a sheep’s tail is placed on a level with the spine 
 the position is an unnatural one. I have generally found, too, that 
 when the tail of a sheep has been placed very high, the back has been 
 weak, and not well covered with flesh. There is a right and wrong 
 position for the tail of a sheep, and to be right it should be neither 
 too high nor too low. 
 
JO 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP: THEIR 
 
 ADVANCE IN PUBLIC FAVOUR. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great improvement which Mr. Ellman 
 effected in the breed, it was some time before Southdown sheep won 
 their way into public favour, if we may judge of this by the prices 
 which they made. But we must bear in mind that in those days sheep, 
 even of the most esteemed breeds, did not realise high prices. It 
 appears, however, from an article in the ‘ Agricultural Annual ’of that 
 date, that in 1836 there was a considerable increase in the value of 
 Southdown sheep, the breed having become better known, and its 
 merits then more fully recognised. In the year 1787 a Southdown 
 ram fetched for the first time as much as ten guineas, Mr. Ellman 
 selling two for 21/. to Lord Waldegrave, of Essex. In the previous 
 year Mr. Arthur Young bought eighty ewes of the same gentleman at 
 1 8s. a piece. These were sent into Suffolk. In 1789 Mr. Ramsden, 
 of Nottinghamshire, bought forty ewes from the Glynde flock at 25s. 
 each, and Mr. Boys, of Betshanger, in East Kent, gave Mr. Ellman 
 eight guineas for a ram. The same year Mr. Macro, of Norfolk, 
 acquired from the same flock one hundred and seventy ewes at 23s. 
 a head. In 1790 Mr. Crowe, also of Norfolk, bought of Mr. Ellman 
 forty ewes at 26s. each, and a ram at twelve guineas. In 1791 Mr. 
 Boys gave 31s. 6d. per head for sixty of the Glynde ewes. 
 
 From this year I believe we may date the increased introduction 
 of Southdown sheep into Norfolk, under the auspices of that renowned 
 encourager of agricultural improvement and progress, Thomas 
 William Coke (afterwards Earl of Leicester). Mr. Ellman certainly 
 visited Holkham in the year 1790. Having seen the Norfolk breed 
 of sheep, which he considered more remarkable for their activity than 
 anything else, he suggested to Mr. Coke the desirability of a trial of 
 a few Southdown ewes to see how far they would be suited to the 
 soil and climate of Holkham. Mr. Coke assented. As his own 
 sheep were sold, Mr. Ellman bought 500 ewes and lambs from the 
 best flocks in Sussex, and sent them to Holkham, with four rams 
 from his own flock ; Mr. Coke giving as much as 70 guineas for these 
 rams. In 1793 Mr. Coke paid Mr. Ellman 35s. each for eighty ewes, 
 and in 1794 the Earl of Egremont gave two guineas each for fifty of 
 the Glynde ewes. After this, Francis, Duke of Bedford, the Duke of 
 Norfolk, and other noblemen and gentlemen, visited Glynde, and 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 were the means of introducing Southdown sheep into different- 
 counties. The first ram that ever fetched 50 guineas was sold by 
 Mr. Ellman in 1796 to Mr. Goodenough, of Dorsetshire. From that 
 time, for many years, there was a steady demand for all the rams 
 Mr. Ellman could supply at prices ranging from 20 to 100 guineas 
 each for the season. In 1800 Mr. Ellman disposed of 200 ewes to 
 the Duke of Bedford for 500 guineas, and in 1802-3 his Grace paid 
 him 300 guineas for the use of a ram for the two seasons, which was the 
 highest letting price ever made by a Glynde ram. The price at 
 which Mr. Ellman sold his draft ewes soon rose to three guineas each, 
 and afterwards to four guineas, at which price he contracted for the 
 sale of the whole draft to one person (Mr. George Talbot, of 
 Gloucestershire) for four years. 
 
 JONAS WEB NS TRIALS . 
 
 The next person who did much to improve and popularise the 
 Southdown breed of sheep was the late Mr. Jonas Webb, of Babra- 
 ham, in Cambridgeshire. This eminent sheep-breeder well deserved 
 the respect in which he was held throughout his life. He was a true 
 representative man, of whom his country might well be proud. His 
 name will be remembered for ages to come, and he will be spoken of 
 as one of England’s most distinguished breeders and improvers of 
 Southdown sheep. Great was his success as a farmer, and no wonder, 
 for he carried out what he undertook with vigour and thoroughness. 
 His connection with Southdown sheep commenced when he was a 
 young man. He entered upon a series of experimental trials with several 
 different breeds of sheep in order to find out which breed was most 
 suited to the Cambridgeshire uplands. At that time Mr. Webb had 
 no particular preference for any one breed, but after exhaustive trials 
 he fully satisfied himself that Southdown sheep produced the greatest 
 weight, and gave the best quality of mutton for the amount of food 
 consumed, and were consequently the most profitable both to breeder 
 and grazier. 
 
 These trials determined Mr. Webb to have nothing to do with 
 any other breed of sheep than Southdown. He therefore purchased 
 for the Church Farm, at Babraham, ewes and rams of the late Mr. 
 John Ellman, of Glynde, and other breeders in Sussex. Having 
 started it, he gave unremitting attention to his flock, and soon 
 
 E 
 
 university of 
 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
 
12 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP: THEIR 
 
 witnessed a gradual but sure improvement in its character. His first 
 letting of rams by public auction took place in 1826. These lettings 
 were continued annually down to the year i860. 
 
 THE BABRAHAM RAM LETTINGS. 
 
 Many will remember the Babraham Ram lettings, and the annual 
 dinner which followed, with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret : 
 pleasure in thinking over those days,’ and regret that such meetings are 
 now things of the past. Who can forget the long and gaily-decked 
 waggon-lodge which formed a characteristic banqueting-hall filled with 
 agriculturists, and amongst them many leading noblemen and gentle- 
 men, who came not so much to do business as to pay honour to an old 
 friend ; who does not remember the late Earl of Hardwicke, with his 
 burly John Bull form and manner, seated at the head of the guests 
 delivering his short and pithy speeches, replete with humour and happy 
 hits on current topics ; who does not recall the jolly, cheerful, Sam Jonas, 
 acting as master of the ceremonies, and his face giving off radiance 
 enough to have lighted up the place without the aid of candles ; or 
 the lithe and active John Clayden, who was here, there, and every- 
 where, with a kind word for everybody ; or the host himself in his 
 seat at the bottom table, supported by his friend and opponent in 
 Southdown breeding, William Rigden, and by the tall and spare form 
 of Jem Turner, of Chyngton, one of the best judges of Southdown 
 sheep that ever lived ! Those were indeed meetings the like of 
 which will never be seen again. But to resume our narrative. 
 
 HONOURS AND SUCCESSES. 
 
 In 1855 a two-year old ram was let for the season for 170 guineas, 
 and in i860 a yearling was sold, after being used at Babraham, for 
 250 guineas. These were, I believe, the highest prices made by 
 Babraham rams. 
 
 As might be expected, Mr. Webb was a most successful exhibitor 
 of Southdown sheep at the Royal and other Agricultural Shows. 
 His first prize was won at the Essex Show held at Saffron Walden. 
 He was subsequently awarded prizes for his sheep at exhibitions in 
 Ireland, Scotland, and France. He first exhibited at the Royal 
 Agricultural Society’s meeting at Cambridge, in 1840, where he 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 13 
 
 received the first prize for ewes. He continued to exhibit with 
 marked success at most of the Royal Shows down to and including 
 the Canterbury meeting in i860, when he made a clean sweep of the 
 prizes for rams. 
 
 DISPERSION OF THE BABRAHAM FLOCK. 
 
 In 1861 the Babraham ewes and rams were sold by auction. 
 They realised 10,926/. In the following year (1862) the shearling 
 rams and ewes born in 1861 were also publicly disposed of, and 
 brought 5,720/. Thus the entire Babraham flock fetched the large 
 sum of 16,646/. Surviving but a few months the dispersion of his 
 favourite flock, the owner passed away in November of the same 
 year. Such is the history of the Glynde and Babraham Southdown 
 flocks. 
 
 WHAT IS A PURE-BRED SOUTHDOWN? 
 
 Here I would venture to remark that while the owners of the 
 flocks of which I have just spoken were scrupulously careful to 
 maintain the purity of the breed, each aimed at a different type of 
 animal. ‘ Small and good ’ sheep were clearly Mr. Ellman’s aim ; 
 Mr. Webb’s, ‘ large and good.’ Believing that large sheep were 
 much the best and would be the sheep of the future, I need not say 
 how well Mr. Webb succeeded in producing animals of larger frame 
 and greater weight than the Southdowns of Mr. Ellman’s day ; 
 while, at the same time, retaining the true type and all the essential 
 points of a pure -bred Southdown sheep. 
 
 It is, of course, a recognised fact (or ought to be by every care- 
 ful breeder of Southdown sheep) that the first and greatest point is 
 to maintain extreme purity ; to allow no cross to diminish the in- 
 estimable value of purity of blood. The direction in which improve- 
 ment in Southdown sheep is desirable is uniformity of character, 
 strength of constitution, excellence of wool, development of symme- 
 trical form, mutton-producing properties, smallness of bone as com- 
 pared with weight of meat, yet not such smallness as to prevent the 
 carrying of an increased amount of flesh. 
 
14 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP : THEIR 
 
 THE MERTON FLOCK . 
 
 I may say that these are the points to which our attention has 
 been always most especially directed in the flock of which I have 
 now had the management for upwards of thirty-six years. It 
 is not for me to say how far we have been successful ; indeed, I must 
 ask you to excuse me, if, in illustration of my subject, I am in some 
 degree compelled to refer to the Merton Flock. I shall do so very 
 briefly, and only when it enables me to trace more clearly the history 
 of progress and improvement than could be done by reference to 
 other flocks with which I am less intimately acquainted. 
 
 Following the subject of increase in weight I find myself obliged 
 to mention the three Shearling Champion Prize Merton Wethers of 
 1870, which averaged a little over 242 lbs. each, live weight. This 
 I believe to have been the greatest weight recorded up to that time. 
 Some persons, indeed, at the Exhibition, thought that the great 
 weight of those sheep suggested that there had been some cross in 
 the breeding. I need scarcely say how utterly groundless was any 
 such suggestion. The same imputation had been before laid to the 
 charge of Jonas Webb. When he succeeded in producing large 
 Southdown sheep of true type, and with as much quality as the 
 small sheep of former times, he, too, was suspected of having had 
 recourse to a cross with some other breed, but the suspicion was as 
 unfounded in his case as in ours. 
 
 Since the Smithfield Show of 1870, other Merton pens of Shear- 
 ling Wethers have been exhibited of nearly the average weight of the 
 Champion sheep of that year, and no question as to the purity of 
 their breeding was ever so much as hinted at. 
 
 At the late Smithfield Exhibition, Lord Walsingham’s prize pen 
 reached the unprecedented average for Southdown Wethers of 251 
 lbs. This showed an increased weight of 9 lbs. per sheep over the 
 weight of the Champion Wethers of 1870, to which I just now 
 referred, and of 26 lbs. as compared with the weight of the Cham- 
 pion Wethers in 1882. 
 
 I have no intention of trying to make it appear that with the 
 Merton flock more has been accomplished than may be done by 
 other flocks, or of keeping from you those particulars of manage- 
 ment to which is due that largeness of frame and excellence of 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 15 
 
 mutton without the infusion of any blood but that of the purest 
 Southdown, to which the Merton sheep have attained. 
 
 There are, of course, many excellent pure-bred flocks of South- 
 down sheep in this country whose history, peculiarities; and merits I 
 am obliged, through stress of time, to pass over. But standing in 
 the front rank of successful Southdown breeders at the present day 
 we are naturally reminded of the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Rich- 
 mond, the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Alington, Sir William Throckmorton, 
 Bart., Messrs. J. J. Colman, M.P., G. and R. Emery, John Ford, 
 Henry Fookes, G. C. Gibson, Hugh Gorringe, H. Humphrey, A. 
 Heasman, J. Hempson, F. M. Jonas, George Jonas, and last, though 
 by no means least, my excellent friend Henry Webb. 
 
 HOW TO FORM A FLO CRT— PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 
 
 In the formation of a flock of Southdown, or any other bleed of 
 ewes, great care and judgment are, of course, most essential. Uni- 
 formity of character, so that the ewes look as much alike ‘ as peas 
 in a peck,’ should be your first object. If you desire to judge of the 
 general character of a flock of Southdown ewes, and to see if they 
 have, as it were, a family likeness, have them driven a short distance 
 from where you stand, and then suddenly wheeled round so that 
 their heads are thrown up and their faces seen at a glance. This 
 will enable you to detect any marked want of uniformity, if there be 
 any. In a word the ewes should be ‘ matching ’ to the eye. When 
 drawing ewes, and separating them into lots for the rams, you must 
 exercise great judgment in the selection, carefully noting individual 
 formation and peculiarities , so that the ewes in each lot are as much 
 alike as possible, and adapted to the style of the ram you intend to 
 put to them. 
 
 There is no flock so perfect but some defects will be found in 
 the ewes, which require correcting, and, therefore, care should be 
 taken to use a ram which will be likely to improve in the offspring 
 the faulty points observable in the ewes. It must, moreover, be a 
 matter lo which the flockmaster gives anxious attention in selecting 
 a ram, that in correcting defects in the ewes he does not overlook 
 any faulty points in the ram which may be transmitted through the 
 ewe, and thereby create imperfections in the lamb which the mother 
 did not possess. 
 
 Only by practice and carefully observing the true principles of 
 
i6 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP: THEIR 
 
 breeding is the flockmaster able to make a proper and judicious 
 selection of rams and ewes, so as fitly to mate them. I therefore 
 desire to impress upon you, agricultural students, the absolute 
 necessity of your becoming thoroughly and practically acquainted with 
 the good and bad points of sheep, no matter what their breed, 
 remembering that the same care and skilful judgment requisite for 
 the successful management of Southdowns are also required in the 
 management of other flocks. 
 
 Each breed has its own marked peculiarities, faults, and merits, 
 which must be well studied and carefully looked after, or a man will 
 never become a good and successful sheep-breeder. 
 
 BREEDING . 
 
 Remember that the breeding of good or bad animals is no 
 game of chance. You might as well expect to breed a superior short- 
 horn beast by using an Alderney bull on a first-class shorthorn cow, 
 as to breed a really good Southdown sheep by using an inferior ram 
 on a good Southdown ewe. 
 
 If a man desire, and most flockmasters do desire, to breed good 
 and shapely sheep, no matter what their breed may be, he must 
 first endeavour to deserve success by going the right way to work to 
 obtain it. Leave nothing to chance. 
 
 Many persons when they have hired a good ram try to get as 
 much out of him as possible, and give him as many ewes as he can 
 be got over. Now I look upon this as an unwise thing to do. 
 Nature has its limits ; and it is far more judicious to limit the 
 number of ewes put to a ram to from fifty to seventy. The ewes 
 will thus be seasoned at the proper time, and have strong, healthy, 
 and vigorous lambs. If you overdo a ram and there are many ewes 
 ‘ run over,’ you will probably breed a number of weakly lambs ; to 
 say nothing as to the bad effect upon the ram for the following 
 season. 
 
 I may observe that I by no means recommend what is commonly 
 known as a ‘ teaser ’ ram to show wTfich ewes are in use. Nature 
 never intended that such a course should be adopted, and I would 
 impress upon you the necessity of following the laws of nature as 
 closely as you can. When a ewe is taken from the teaser to the ram 
 by which she is to be served, there is frequently a great deal of 
 nervous excitement and fear produced in the e>ve, and this being so 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 1 7 
 
 how can we wonder if there are many cases of ewes ‘running over,’ 
 when they have been subjected to such unnatural treatment, which 
 may be aggravated by the rough conduct of an irritable or bad- 
 tempered shepherd. 
 
 PRACTICE A T MERTON. 
 
 I feel that I can best explain my views and recommendations if I 
 allow myself once more to say a few words with respect to the system 
 of management adopted in the Merton Flock. In doing so, I desire 
 it to be clearly understood that though I have been connected for so 
 many years with Southdown sheep, and though I may be said to regard 
 them with all the admiration felt for one’s * first love,’ I am by no 
 means disposed to praise them by depreciating other breeds. A long 
 experience has taught me to recognise the fact that while Southdown 
 sheep are well adapted to upland and dry soils, they are at the same 
 time wholly unsuited to some other soils and conditions. And when 
 pointing out to you the great improvement that has taken place in 
 the breeding of Southdown sheep during the present century, I am 
 not unmindful of the marked change effected in other breeds, such 
 as the Cotswolds, the Lincolns, the Oxfords, the Shropshires, and 
 the Hampshires ; and were it not for the invidiousness it would 
 involve, I should like to stray from the immediate subject of my 
 lecture to remind you of the honour which attaches to the names of 
 many breeders of these sheep, who have earned the thanks of both 
 meat-producers and meat-consumers, but time will not permit this 
 digression. 
 
 The Merton Flock comprises twelve different families, and the 
 shepherds know, from long experience, how to select the ewes for 
 each family, which ram to put to them, and the kind of lambs that 
 are likely to be produced. By this careful plan of managing the 
 several families we have produced and maintained the large size of 
 the Merton sheep. We have always remarked that when rams have 
 been hired for use at Merton they have only in three instances given 
 us a first-prize animal, but that the second and third generations, 
 after an intermingling of fresh blood with our own sheep, have been 
 most successful. 
 
 It is a rule at Merton that when a hired ram has left a promising 
 ram lamb the lamb is used to eight or ten ewes to see how far he 
 
8 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP : THEIR 
 
 may be relied upon for use as a shearling, and thus the disappoint- 
 ment which might arise from his produce not being satisfactory is 
 avoided, 
 
 FEEDING. 
 
 For ten days or a fortnight before rams are put with the ewes it 
 is advisable to change the food of the ewes to something more 
 stimulating than that which they had been previously fed upon. This 
 not only causes the ewes to come into use more quickly than they 
 would otherwise do, but invariably leads to a better fall of lambs. 
 The fresh food must be continued for at least five or six weeks, when 
 doubtless the greater part of the ewes will be seasoned. 
 
 MANAGEMENT OF FLOCK. 
 
 During pregnancy great care must be exercised not only in 
 supplying the ewes with nutritious, health-giving food, but in keeping 
 them from any great excitement, such, for instance, as might be 
 produced by fright from being run by a reckless dog. I may here 
 observe that, while fully recognising the usefulness of a well-trained 
 sheep-dog, I cannot but protest against the way in which I have 
 frequently seen in-lamb ewes and other sheep chased, harassed, and 
 alarmed by a wretch of a dog, apparently under the slight control of 
 a careless and lazy shepherd, who, to save his own legs, will un- 
 necessarily run the dog after the sheep, heedless of the ill-effects it 
 may produce. A good and careful man will not dream of doing such 
 a thing. Many persons are little aware of the injury that is done by 
 the injudicious use of dogs. If they are in-lamb ewes, there is great 
 risk of producing abortion, and if they are fatting sheep, the effect of 
 the alarm caused by an excitable dog upon them is to take a good 
 deal more off in five minutes than you can put on again in five hours. 
 In both cases the owner is a sufferer. The excitement caused by the 
 action of the dog does away for a time with the quietude which is so 
 desirable for fatting animals, and consequently they do not gain 
 flesh so quickly as they would if they were kept free from unnecessary 
 and preventible alarm. 
 
 The question, what is the best course of feeding for in-lamb ewes, 
 s a most important one, and calls for the greatest consideration and 
 care on the part of the flockmaster. 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 19 
 
 There exists no reasonable doubt that where ewes are kept on grass 
 land until after they have lambed there is little fear of abortion, 
 always presupposing that they are kept free from injury, are not 
 jumped over ditches and water-courses, not over-driven, nor subjected 
 to fright, &c. I have proved beyond question, with the Merton 
 ewes, that keeping them entirely away from turnips until after they 
 have lambed is a decided safeguard against abortion. Up to the 
 year 1853 the Merton ewes were folded on turnips from the end of 
 October until the spring of the following year. They were then as 
 unhealthy as any ewes in the country. In the early part of 1854 
 there were something like no cases of abortion, and eighty ewes 
 died. Feeling that a change in the treatment must be made, I 
 determined that in future the ewes should not be fed on turnips 
 (except for five or six weeks when the rams were with them) until 
 after they had lambed. Since that time they have been folded and 
 fed on grass land, with the supply of grass daily supplemented by a 
 reasonable allowance of a mixture of hay chaff and fresh -made broad 
 bran, at the rate of four bushels of chaff to one of bran. At about 
 the fifteenth week of gestation half a bushel more bran is added to 
 each four bushels of chaff, and this allowance of mixed food is 
 gradually increased in proportion to the increasing demand made 
 by the unborn lamb on the system and strength of the ewe. 
 
 HOW TO AVERT ABORT/O A. 
 
 Since the introduction of this change in our system of feeding 
 the in-lamb ewes at Merton, cases of abortion have been unknown, 
 and the mortality amongst the ewes has been at a minimum. 
 
 On this point I may be permitted to call your attention to my 
 lecture on ‘ Abortion and Mortality amongst Ewes', 9 delivered in 
 1877. To enable me to arrive at something like a definite idea as 
 to the cause of the fearfully large number of ewes which aborted and 
 died in many parts of the country in the early part of the year I have 
 referred to, I sent out more than four hundred circular letters of 
 inquiry, each letter containing twenty questions, to flockmasters and 
 others throughout the United Kingdom. These letters were almost 
 all replied to and the questions fully answered. They showed 
 clearly and conclusively that the greater part of the abortions and 
 deaths occurred in flocks where the ewes had been fed on a com- 
 paratively unstinted allowance of common turnips and swedes 
 
20 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP : THEIR 
 
 unmixed with dry food ; and that a good allowance of dry food 
 undoubtedly does away with many of the ill effects produced by 
 simple root diet. It was also very clearly shown that where the ewes 
 were grass-fed there was an entire absence of any serious amount of 
 abortion and mortality. 
 
 The particulars, with the reasons given for the conclusions at 
 which I arrived, were fully detailed in the lecture to which I have 
 alluded. I may, therefore, especially as our time is so limited, be 
 excused from entering further into this subject. Let me, however, 
 add that I have every hope, when the ensilaging of green crops comes 
 to be fully understood and appreciated as it deserves, the system 
 will be far more generally adopted, with as much benefit and 
 advantage to flockmasters as to dairy farmers, cheese-makers and 
 stock-keepers in general. I am justified in this confident statement 
 by my recent experience of the good results which have followed 
 the use of ensilage in the case of in-lamb ewes. 
 
 LAMBING. 
 
 As the time draws near for ewes to lamb, a sheltered, well-littered 
 yard should be provided. This should be surrounded by straw- 
 thatched sheds, so divided as to have a nice comfortable pen for each 
 ewe when she lambs. 
 
 These yards may be constructed for a comparatively small 
 expenditure, and the cost will be amply compensated by the saving 
 of life both among ewes and lambs : many that would otherwise 
 probably be lost in severe weather being preserved by means of this 
 timely protection. 
 
 Suitable food and dry litter should also be provided close at hand, 
 so that the shepherd has not to run about in search of these neces- 
 saries at a time when the ewes are calling for all the attention which 
 he can give them. 
 
 Bear in mind that the duties of a shepherd at lambing time are 
 varied, trying, and anxious, and it is a ‘ penny wise ’ practice to stint 
 him. To deny him a fair and reasonable amount of manual help 
 when he requires it, will be hard upon him, and may be the cause of 
 the death of many lambs ; because, however willing he is, there is a 
 limit to the shepherd’s bodily power, besides which he cannot be in 
 two or three places at the same time. 
 
 A careful, painstaking shepherd, of the greatest value at any 
 
HISTORY, .BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 21 
 
 time, becomes doubly valuable at the laborious and anxious time of 
 lambing. How considerable is the importance and worth of such 
 a shepherd can only be fully understood and appreciated by those 
 who, like myself, have watched his constant zeal and anxiety in 
 endeavouring to do the best in his power for the interest of his 
 employer. 
 
 I repeat what I said on a former occasion, that it is very 
 desirable for the master to visit his shepherd at the lambing-fold 
 during the night as well as during the day, as frequently as possible, 
 and especially in coarse weather, and if he occasionally takes with 
 him something ‘ warm and comforting ’ it will be gratefully received 
 and fully appreciated. The more trustworthy the shepherd, the 
 better pleased he is to find the master taking an interest in his work. 
 If everything is going on satisfactorily, it will afford him pleasure to 
 make it known to his employer, while, on the other hand, if he is 
 experiencing more than ordinary anxiety and difficulty in performing 
 his duties, he will be very thankful for the advice and assistance that 
 his master will be able to give him — more especially in cases where 
 the shepherd has reason to put confidence in the skill and know- 
 ledge of the master. You, therefore, see how very necessary it is 
 for you, agricultural students, to be well grounded in all the practical 
 details of sheep management if you would become successful flock- 
 masters, or desire to have your shepherds look up to you for advice. 
 
 STRAINING IN EWES AFTER LAMBING. 
 
 In a lecture on the * Diseases of Sheep,’ delivered in November 
 1872, I referred to most of the diseases to which sheep are liable. 
 On this occasion I can refer to one or two only. There is that fatal 
 disorder, * Straining in Ewes after Lambing,’ as to which I may say 
 that in the spring of 1878 I made known the success which had 
 followed the treatment of ewes when affected with this disease by the 
 use of carbolised oils, by which an enormous amount of suffering 
 and loss amongst ewes is prevented. 
 
 Not only did the Merton shepherd save every one of the ewes 
 thus afflicted when first we adopted this treatment, but the flock in 
 the last few years has been entirely free from the disease, which I 
 think is wholly attributable to the free application of the carbolised 
 oils whenever a case of difficult lambing has arisen. Since this 
 treatment was made known by me through the agricultural papers, 
 
22 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP : THEIR 
 
 it has been tried by many flockmasters, and with almost unvarying 
 success. 
 
 One of the leading physicians of Norwich, and at the present 
 time mayor of that city (Dr. Eade), was so struck with the success of 
 the treatment that he tried it in two out of five severe and danger- 
 ous cases of puerperal fever in women. The two patients so treated 
 recovered ; the other three died. These cases, most interesting and 
 important (from many points of view), will be found reported in the 
 British Medical Journal of January 22, 1881, p. 116, in a paper 
 contributed by Dr. Eade. 
 
 It would take too much time to enter into the particulars of this 
 fatal disease and the method of its treatment. For information on 
 these points I would refer you to some correspondence on the subject 
 published by the proprietors of the Norwich Mercury , at whose office 
 copies may be obtained. There you will find full directions for the 
 preparation and use of these carbolised oils. 
 
 The utmost care must be taken in preparing the oils, which should 
 be compounded of the best ingredients. Failure here may lead to 
 failure in result. Indeed, such is the care required in the prepara- 
 tion, that (though, no doubt, there are others) I myself know only of 
 one or two firms in England whose oils are perfectly satisfactory. 
 
 TREATMENT OF EWES IN LAMBING. 
 
 A few brief general directions as to the management of ewes 
 during lambing-time may be of future service to you. 
 
 In the first place, the shepherd should make it his practice to 
 quietly walk among the ewes, carefully noting those which show 
 symptoms of lambing within a few hours, and gently driving all such 
 into a sheltered fold near the lambing yard, or into the yard itself, so 
 that whether day or night he will know where chiefly to direct his 
 attention. When the labour pains come on, and the lamb is believed 
 to be in the right position, the shepherd should not be in a hurry, 
 but allow nature (the best of all midwives) to do her own work. 
 
 An experienced shepherd will never attempt to help a ewe until 
 he sees that there are signs of her (to use a shepherd’s term) ‘ giving 
 up.’ Then assistance may be rendered with advantage. 
 
 The lamb when born should be placed near the head of the 
 mother, who, as a rule, will perform her natural duty. When the 
 ewe has done what is necessary by the lamb, and has somewhat 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 23 
 
 recovered from the fatigue and exhaustion of the labour, she should 
 be sparingly fed ; at first with a mixture of good hay chaff, bran, and 
 crushed heavy oats. 
 
 Let it ever be remembered, that the more judiciously and gener- 
 ously a ewe is fed after having fully recovered from the lambing, the 
 better she will be able to nurse the lamb. 
 
 When the lambs are old enough to pick or nibble a few turnip- 
 tops, or a little young grass, they should be allowed to run into a 
 forward fold, where, after a little time, some finely- crushed linseed 
 cake, mixed with crushed heavy oats and a small quantity of fresh 
 bran, should be placed in low, covered troughs, so that they may eat 
 a little of the mixed food at pleasure. 
 
 This kind of feeding should be continued, increasing the allowance 
 of mixed food as the lambs grow older and stronger. Of course, 
 experienced shepherds or flockmasters will understand that it is 
 desirable later on to throw out a few mangolds which the lambs 
 can pick over in the forward fold, the ewes taking what the lambs 
 leave. 
 
 Perhaps it is unnecessary I should say that it is desirable for the 
 mangolds to be somewhat withered by exposure to the sun and air 
 before they are thus given to the ewes and lambs. 1 know of no 
 mangold so well suited for early feeding by ewes and lambs as 
 Sutton’s ‘Yellow Intermediate.’ We are so satisfied with it that we 
 now grow no other variety. 
 
 When the time arrives for weaning the lambs, which will be about 
 July 1 , preparation should be made to have a supply of cole or 
 cabbages, or a similar kind of food, to feed them upon at night, and 
 during the day they should be run out on clean fresh grass ; but on 
 no account allow them to feed on grass growing upon land which 
 may have been fouled by being heavily sheep-fed. Grass grown on 
 such land is pernicious to lambs, and should be carefully avoided. 
 The evil effect may not be observed until much harm has been 
 done. 
 
 The lambs should have a daily allowance of from three to four 
 ounces per head of mixed bruised heavy oats, linseed cake, and 
 fresh broad bran. Where it can be conveniently given, a frequent 
 change of pasture is most desirable, and any extra trouble or incon- 
 venience this may cause will be amply repaid by the thriving and 
 healthy condition that it will be sure to promote. 
 
 The ewes will require extra care and attention when the lambs 
 are weaned from them. For a few days they should be somewhat 
 
24 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP: THEIR 
 
 sparingly fed, so as to check the production of milk. Each one 
 must also be specially watched, to ascertain the condition of its 
 udder, and, when necessary, it should be relieved of any excess of 
 milk by carefully drawing it off with the hand. A neglected udder 
 is frequently followed by milk garget, which is indicated by the udder 
 being swollen and hard. This, though not a fatal, is frequently a 
 yery troublesome disease. It arises from the milk curdling, and 
 gives considerable pain and inconvenience to the ewe. The first 
 thing to do is to get all the milk possible from the udder. Then use 
 rather freely a lotion consisting of 
 
 Sugar of lead . 
 Sulphate pf zinc 
 Vinegar 
 Water . 
 
 ^ ounce. 
 \ ounce, 
 i pint. 
 
 J pint. 
 
 and give a dose of Epsom salts of from three to four ounces, dis- 
 solved with warm water. 
 
 Practical flockmasters are also well aware that great care and 
 attention are required in the management of lambs throughout the 
 months of July, August, and September, when so many thousands 
 are annually lost from a low, lingering, weakening fever, which seems 
 to feed on their very life’s blood : post-morte?n examinations showing 
 that it leaves an emaciated body, white and bloodless. A cure is 
 most difficult, and is rarely accomplished, if the fever remains 
 unchecked for any length of time. Prevention in this, as in other 
 matters, is far easier and, therefore, better than cure. 
 
 My experience convinces me that injudicious and niggardly 
 feeding is the main cause of this lamb disease. Where lambs are 
 given a change of food of a nutritive character, and are not allowed 
 to feed on pastures or layers where sheep have been folded, or have 
 laid thickly on the ground, they generally remain healthy, and are 
 seldom attacked with the fever. 
 
 £ Keep lambs in a thriving condition ’ is a rule which ought to be 
 written in letters of gold. It is a rule which also applies to sheep of 
 all ages. 
 
 Time passes so quickly that I have only a few minutes to speak 
 of the management of young sheep when first fed with turnips. I 
 may, however, briefly observe that great care should be taken to 
 gradually accustom the hoggets to turnips by throwing a few -at a 
 time on to grass land where they are feeding, increasing the daily- 
 
HISTORY, BREEDING, AND MANAGEMENT. 
 
 25 
 
 allowance as they get accustomed to the food. After this has been 
 accomplished put them into a fold on the turnip land at night, but 
 in that case also the supply of roots must be limited for a time. 
 
 When feeding young sheep on turnip land it is of the first import- 
 ance not to pinch them with insufficient hurdle room. An extra 
 10/. expended in hurdles may save the loss of 20/. worth of sheep. 
 A good supply of hurdles enables the animals to get exercise, and to 
 pick up any withered parts of turnips which may have been passed 
 over during the folding. Such withered roots are enjoyed by sheep 
 when the weather is fine, and frequently have a good effect in check- 
 ing any possible evil from the fresh turnips. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that good and successful managers 
 supplement the turnip food with a mixture of chaff (if of hay all the 
 better), malt culms, bran, and linseed cake, and are guided in the 
 daily allowance by the time at which they wish to have the sheep 
 ready for sale. 
 
 When the period comes to feed with swedes, in place of white or 
 other common turnips, care must be taken to introduce them mixed 
 at first, and then gradually to increase the proportion of swedes 
 until no turnips are given at all. 
 
 Do not overdo them with roots at any time, or bad results may 
 follow. 
 
 It sometimes happens that under any circumstances a lot of sheep 
 will begin to do badly on roots. When this is the case do not 
 hesitate entirely to change the food for a time. It will avoid disas- 
 trous loss. I have frequently known a judicious alteration of food 
 cause so great a change in the health of a lot of sheep as to surprise 
 their owner and the shepherd in charge of them. A careful, observant, 
 and practical man will frequently avoid the losses which another 
 person, less observant and less practical, is called upon to endure. 
 
 VALEDICTORY ADVICE. 
 
 Suffer me before I say good-bye to you to give you one more 
 word of advice. This Institute affords you the opportunity of 
 listening to many excellent lectures. From them you will learn much 
 that will be useful to you. Whether what you hear will be of any 
 lasting advantage or not will depend in great measure —perhaps 
 entirely— upon yourselves. Believe me when I say that unless you 
 think over each lecture carefully after you leave this room, you will 
 get little permanent good. 
 
26 
 
 SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. 
 
 Then, remember, that though lectures and book reading are 
 designed to assist you, they will of themselves never make you good 
 and successful men of business. 
 
 You must add to theoretical knowledge personal energy, care, 
 perseverance, and economy. Energy in performing all your duties 
 with a * will.’ Care that nothing placed under your charge suffers 
 from want of personal attention. Perseverance in endeavouring to 
 overcome all difficulties which seemingly stand between you and 
 success. Economy in the management of your farms and personal 
 expenses, so as not to spend a shilling in doing that which might 
 with sound judgment and forethought be done equally well for 
 sixpence. 
 
 Finally, when the time comes for you to enter upon farming, do 
 not be tempted to hire a farm of 500 acres if your capital is only 
 equal to one of half the size. There is no royal road to successful farming. 
 
 Success such as that we see to have attended those three eminent 
 agriculturists, Jonas Webb, Sam Jonas, and John Clay den, was 
 achieved by honest work — work with hands as well as with head. 
 Work you as they worked, and there will be no reason why even in 
 these adverse times your skill, care, and judgment in the manage- 
 ment of herd, and flock, and farm, should not be rewarded with like 
 success : a good honest return for Brain and Capital, sufficient not 
 only for the requirements of the day but for the vicissitudes of the 
 morrow. 
 
 LONDON : PRINTED BY 
 
 SPOTTISIVOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE 
 
 AND PARLIAMENT STREET