The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-02-11
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A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT IN PRE-
PAIRING ENsILAaE.


ing one fthe two silos at the Buckley farm,
in this village, Was opened in the presence
of several of the citizens of this place.
Its contents fully realized the expectation
Of the Messrs. Buckley. The silo was
opened at the end, about four or five feet of
the covering being removed. The fodder
had settled about two feet. On top, Just
beneath the rye straw, the enslage was
spoiled to tho depth Of about two inches,
but from there as far down us it was taken
out it was nicely preserved. 1t had turned
slight browniSh color, aud emitted slight
ly vinous odor. About n half bushel was
given to each COW, and though they had
been served with their morning meal, it was
all eaten up; with the exception, of the mois
dy crust. The Messrs. Buckley arc highly
pleased and will undoubtedly construct two
more silos next Summer
Silo is term not very well known, nor
what it implies, for it is French wo,d.-
1t means "preserver," and is neither more
nor less than perfectly air.tight vault or
pit on its four sides and bottom, having the
entire top open. Its purpose is the preser-
vatlon OF fodder in green state, which is
designated by another French word, "cusi.
lage." literally preserved" TO preserve
fodder in green state it is necessary to
pack it away in an air-tight place, the same
as one would preserve fruit, and to make it
pack closely, and drive out all the air, it is
necessary to cut it up very finely. 1t has
been ascertained that corn will produce a
greater amount on given space of ground
than any other Of the grasses, and conse-
quenty is nearly altogether used, especially
now in the early stages of the experiment
1t is raised the same as corn for fodder is
generally raised, in drills, from two and a
half to three and half feet apart. While
yet in the milk it is cut and carried to the
silo, aud before being packed away is put
through cutting machine which cuts it
into lcugths of one-half inch or less, and
then pressed down by heavy weights being
placed upon it. The top is then made air
tight. This work is necessarily done in
August or September, and in consequence
OF there being any quantity of pasture un-
til late in the Autumn, the necessity of
| opening does not occur until about the pres
ent time. When opened the outer edges
arc generally little musty, but when fur
ther exposed it presents beautiful appear
ancc, and when given to cattle, be it cows,
| ohSSF, hoioCS, VI SWilC, 10 cateu Will great
avidity. A sio may be built Of stone,
brick, or concrete, and should be finished
with eemeat- On inside -MAiieAe4ss is
the cheapest material in tho locality where
used is the best. As rule, concrete is the
cheapest, as the excavation necessarily made
furnishes all the material except the cement
a rectangular form will answer the purpose
best, the width being about one. third the
length, and the height about two. ffths OF
the length. A side hill will prove the most
convenient position, both for filling and
emtying. 1t can be leveled SO that one side
may be made available for position for the
cutter and power needed to run it, and the
ensilage taken from ono end, which may be
directly in the barn. The walls of sio,
when above the surface, must necessarily be
very strong to withstand the pressure caused
by the settling of the ensilagc.
At the Messrs. Buckley's establishment
there was no side hill to utilize, and q part
of the cow-barn floor was takon up and a
pit excavated rs feet long, 81 feet wide, and
81 feet deep. Concrete walls were then
laid, and the pit divided into two silos, each
% by 8, and 154 feet deep The cost of
these two silos was as follows:
Excavating. 1l2 days work at 81 per
day.: ..............".....-$1l2 90
MasOn's bill....... ........................ "a 43
Men to assist the masons, II days work IL 90
Lime and cement. 78 10