West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-12-24
ONE MAN IN THE STRAW.

auu DOAeu gang way loauiuS Aroui
the lower gable to the top of anoth-
err large frame building below, un-
folds to us how it is that one man
can take away and stack the straw
from thresher, and the moment
the machine stops have the entire
straw crop in perfect shape, all
cleaned up" all under roof, ready
when the first wintry blast comes
to turn in the cattle, under the
sheds beneath, to feed at will from
the ever-filled racks, snugly shelter
ed from the wind and storm.
Besides barns and stables, all
about and most handily arranged
are sheds, tool-houses, poultry
houses and all manner of conven-
lent out, buildings, all in perfect
repair, while just under the hill is
the carp pond, alive with ''thor-
oughbred' fish.
But let further particulars 60
now, for something new under the
sun.
GlLOD AMI bNClbA1h.
The most novel and interesting
feature of the large, main building
described, is the arrangement for
preparing and preserving ensildge,
that new and wonderfully nutri-
tious stock feed, 80 delightful to
the taste of all grass and grain feed
ing animals.
What is ensilages And What IS a
silo? These will doubtless be the
first questions in the minds of many
FREEMAN readers.
Ams,oer-Ensilage is simply green
fodder preserved in its green state,
much as ripe fruit is preserved in
its natural state in alright vessels.
The growing corn, peas, millet,
oats. rye, ETC., is cut in its milk
state, run through cutting ma
chine, thrown in bulk into huge
alright bins, IT, nks or cisterns and
put under p' ,sure. This green
mass, after rt~ching condition of
semi-fermentation, remains thus
through winter to be fed out as re-
quired.
These tanks or "silos," as they
are termed, of which Mr.. Carskadon
has three, holding over 60 tons
each, are most conveniently arran-
ged, on one side of this three story
barn, extending from above the up
per, down to the second floor. They
are built like an ice-house with
double, tight board walls, filled in
between with coal cinders. The
cutting machine being on the floor
with the top Of the silos, the green
corn or other. fodder, as cults thrown
directly into them, and when fill
ed a covering of lumber is put on
and the pressure applied. For this
pressure Mr. Carskadon uses screws
with spring attachments, most
valuable arrangement for which he
has recently secured letters patent
and by which the cost of com press
ing the ensilage is reduced to mere
trife. The feed is hoisted out as
used by rope and pulley.
| DOWN IN A sILO.
The writer went down the ladder
into one of these (nearly emptied)
silos, with the enthusiastic patron
and advocate of this new stock-fat-
tener. Digging down a few inches
into the packed mass, he presented
handful of the green substance
for inspection. 1t was very moist
and quite warm 80 much SO that the
uninitiated would think it about
to spoil" But it was found pleas
ant both to smell and taste, having
a vinous, acid flavor that prohi-
bitionist would almost condemn,
lest the feeding of it to stock should
be tempting the innocent animals
with an intoxicating beverage.
And so the ensilage is pre-
served in this warm, moist and semi
fermented state. 1t is eagerly
sought and enjoyed with growing
delight by sheep, cattle, horses and
all grass and grain feeding ami
mails.
VALUE OF ENsILAGE.
On this point take the results of
| Mr.. Carskadon's experience as he