Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-05
A SilO In Peacham.

Mr.. Editor Having become quite interested
In silos during the last few years, | have read
everything In relation to them which could OBJ
tain. During this winter have seen numerous
articles In different papers ON the subject The
cost and experience with them has, | notice.
widely differed. From causes like this have no.
ticed with considerable interest the operation Of
silo constructed by DIR. L. +. Parker Of Peacham.
The doctor has argued for number Of years that
green hay could be kept perfectly in an alright
bay, II well trodden down. When the theory OF
the silo began to be discussed, he determined to
try it, l. e., the silo Accordingly section OF the
barn. ten by twenty, which had been used as
manure receptacle, was cleared, the bed rock on
which the barn sits scraped clean, and carefully
cemented. The sides of the barn were then heav-
lily timbered, and double boarded on the inside
with planed spruce boards, eighteen feet long
thus making pit ten by twenty by eighteen, Of
an estimated capacity of ninety tons Four acres
OF mammoth ensilage and southern dent corn
were planted by machine, at a cost Of one dollar
per acre. All the hoeing was done by carefully
cultivatng the piece four times. The work Of
filling the pit began about September 10, and con-
tinued at intervals till about October 10 At first
the ensilage was carefully trodden and pounded
down with maui, until about feet were thus put
down, when a horse was used until the remainder
was all in. The work seldom continued all day.
and frequent Intervals Of two three days oc-
CURED in which none was put down yet so
hard was 1t trodden that 1t did not heat at all,
has it ever passed the first stage of fermepta
tion. No weights were placed upon 1t except
light load of straw. The doctor thinks that after
this he will not do even that. Twelve feet in
depth only Of the pit were used, holding about
sixty tons of the ensage. An average Of ten cows
have been kept the ensage, being fed from forty
to sixty pounds per day, according to the cow to-
gether with three pounds of cotton seed meal No
other fodder has been used The ensilage is very
mildly acid, nor is 1t off ensive to the taste or
smell, as has been frequently reported from vari-
GUS sos. The cattle are sleek, in good flesh and
feel better than any cows have seen this winter
or course they are ank from the condensed shape
in which their fodder is One COW that dropped
her calf about a month ago gives forty pounds of
milk per day and is still gaining in quantity. The
doctor is enthusiastic, he says he don't know how
he could get fodder enough from four acres in
any other way to keep ten cows. In the con-
struction OF the silo six thousand feet of lumber
were used but the doctor thinks it was more
than was really necessary. The entire cost was
Sl1O, but he says suitable pit could be built for
about S15. No part OF the silo was underground
nor were the sides packed to prevent freezing
During the very coolest weather it froze a little
at one end but not enough to do any harm
Sometimes there was a slight encrustation on top
The cost OF the ensiage was reckoned at 81 80 per
ton. | hear the question often asked whether
amusement Of the amateur, or whether 1t IL to be
something, 1t seems to me that the time has
not yet arrived TO decide that question. But the
experiments OF such practical farmers as Dr.
Parker can hardly fail to be useful and instruc-
tive to the intelligent and progressive farmer
Again we hear 1t repeated that the milk from
cows fed on ensilage is poor and the butter in
sipid. The doctor does not allow anything OF
that kind at his dairy. Perhaps other parties
can tell us something in regard to this. One Of
the Boston milkmen, who keeps seventy cows on
enslage, is producing milk at a cost OF two and
one-half cents per quart would like to know
II any one here in Vermont can equal that in feed
ing hay and grain. ZATA.