Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-04-07
4 WORD ABoUT ENsILAGE.

OAA years ago Tie huHSUS runner ui&OO
farmers to learn how to prepare silos and
make ensilage, and good many people
laughed at us, and said that we we're kid
gloved farmers. But we are getting
there, as the report of the Dairy conven-
ton shows. Men in Kansas have learned
to make what Captain Pierce says is the
best food for animals ensilage.
A sllo is pit, a room-a space prepar-
ed to hold green corn, grass, vegetables,
etc., for preservation as food to be used
afterwards as may be needed, and the
corn, grass, vegetables, etc., for preserva-
ton as food to be used afterwards as may
be needed, and the corn, grass, or what
ever green thing is put into the silo for
preservation, is, after being put in and
preserved, called ensilage. The secret,
and the only secret, is to keep the mass
away from the air, or to prevent the air
from getting into it and circulating
through it. The Kansas Farmer will be
pleased to publish practical letters on
this subject from any person of expert
ence. Let farmers know all about it.
Senator j. s Codding, Pottawatomie
county, was in this Office few days ago
and mentioned an interesting experiment
made by Mr.. O. 81. Roberts, whose farm
is two and one-half miles south OF Blaine,
in that county. At our request the Sena-
tor made special visit to Mr.. Roberts
place, and here is his report:
LOUISVILLE KANSAS, March q, 1885,
EDITOR KANSAS yesterday I
visited Mr.. O. Fl. Roberts, and examined
his silo, ensilage and stock. Mr.. Roberts
farm contains 800 acres, stock Cleveland
Bays, English Shires, colts, horses, cattle,
etc. The main point at present is his
feed and mode of preparing, saving, etc.
Last year he had basement barn con-
structed twenty eight by forty feet, base
ment eight feet high, frame building on
top fourteen feet, making depth twenty
two feet from plate to floor. He parti-
toned off fifty feet in length of this barn
for silo, making size twenty-eight by
fifty feet, and twenty-five deep, studding
six by two inches, sided on outside and
sheathed on inside with common-surfaced
boards. Into this was put thirty five
acres of sorghum, sixty tons of turnips,
tops and all, thirty-fve tons of second
growth of oats, Called volunteer.) No
pains were taken to level up, no tramp
ing except when about one-half was in
team of horses was put in for one-half
day. All this was put in without cutting.
The covering was three feet of oats straw;
one-half was weighted with stone, the
other had no weight on; both ends kept
equally well. The silo was not full, esti-
mated $50 tons put in. Mr.. r. informs
me he has fed about 100 head of cattle
and horses all winter, and is still feeding.
His stock is in fine condition, except
few colts that staid in another field about
three weeks, and while they had free &C.
cess to hay stacks, they lost flesh SO that
they can be readily picked out. Mich
COWS are fat and giving fine flow of
milk; COWS with young calves are sleek;
in fact the cattle are in better condition
than when taken up for winter. Mr.. R.
does not recommend putting in matured
sorghum or corn stalks; they keep we'll,
but are difficult to masticate. He will
put in prairie and tame grass, turnips,
green oats, in fact anything that makes
good feed when green, and cover with
two feet or more Of prairie grass.
This demonstrates to my mind. CD A
silo need not be absolutely air tight.
While little ensilage on the outside
may spoil, yet not enough to pay for cell
ing, battening, or doubling the boards in
side. CO Tramping is not necessary, as
the weight packs it tight enough to ex-
clude the air. g. Cutting and cutting
machine can be dispensed with. ca No
boards, or in fact weights, are absolutely
necessary; though weighing and tramp
ing will settle the mass sooner. 90 More
than double the stock can be wintered by
ensilage off of given number or acres of
and than by curing by the old plan. No
grain has been fed on this place to the
stock cattle, horses, or mich COWS. The |
cane on surface looks black, but it is eat
IN greedily by all kinds of stock.
J.. S. CoDD1Na.
As one Of the developments which
ire in store for western Kansas, we
recommend the earnest reading Of
he above remarks, which are taken
rom the Kansas Farmer. Our peo-
lie know only too well the evil eff
ects Of feeding frozen sorghum to
took. As taken from the silo, it's
Iuality for feed is not only improv-
d, but its temperature renders it
alatable. The WORLD is the steady
riend Of progress, and it urges our
eople to make ensilage. Machinery
convenient for cutting up the
led for storing in the silo, but ex-
eriments can be made, and the ex-
ellence Of the system proved, by us
lg corn knives or other cheap tools
or chopping. (
IT is Pressed that Oakley wants tai