Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-06-09
s!LOS AND EN5lLkGE.i
Some Fncts Regarding n Subject That Is Becoming Popular with Macy Farmers.

Some Fncts Regarding n Subject That Is Becoming Popular with Macy Farmers.
 So many different forms of silos are in use varying in cost and capacity, says The New York World, that lengthy descrip- tions of them cannot be given, nor is it necessary when the general principle is understood. For a silo of moderate capa- city which is to remain permanently for use from year to year, it will be best when it can be located inside of barn or some other building, and indeed. in most other cases, to have it all below ground by mak- ing an excavation of the size wanted. If the ground is firm cement on the smooth dirt, but if liable to cave in then a brick or stone wall will be required, which must be cemented. One of the advantages of such a silo over those wholly above ground consists in the ease with which it can be filed from the first floor instead of elevating the ensilage in some way to the top of one above ground. In taking out from an underground silc only 50 much of the top should be removed at time as is necessary for getting at it conveniently, and the ensilage can be raised in q large tub or square box swung by blocks and tackle, with the aid of a small windlass.
 A silo can be made of any form so that air and water are excluded, but it will be found best to make the width about one third of the length, and the depth may be from twelve feet upward as desired. Large and expensive silos are usually divided into compartments, with various appliances for cutting. filling and empty ing, according to the ideas of the owners. It is estimated that for COW that has pasturage for half the year 275 cubic feet of ensilage will generally be sufficient. In locating a silo and determining whether il shall be above or below ground, the con veniences afforded for cutting, filling, emptying and feeding should be primarily considered. In addition to the advantages named, an underground silo once properly made is a permanent affair, while one made of lumber above ground and ex posed to the action of the atmosphere is liable to shrinlSage and openings, and q large mass of fermenting material in close contact with the boards will soon cause decay.
 The corn plant is so universally pre.
 
 is unnecessary to discuss the merits of the different grasses. Well grown stalks and partly cared are more desirable than those so thiclly sown as to be spindling and watery. The seed may be drilled in rows three feet apart, with stalks eight inches apart in the rows, with cultivation enougl to keep down the weeds, and the croI should be harvested when the ears begir to glaze, and should be hauled in and cu into inch lengths or less and shoveled il and thoroughly trampled down as fast a. cut It is desirable that the corners of tn cemented silo should be rounding rathe than square, and that the ends and side slope gently toward the center, making tn diameters at the bottom about a foot les than at the top, when the settling dow of the top will prevent any crevice beini made at the sides by the shrinEage of tn mass below. The ensilage may be covere in various ways. One is with boards GOV cred with earth and stones; another wit straw two feet deep and the straw covere with muck or sand. An impression seem to be gaining ground that the very heav weights once thought necessary may b dispensed with, provided the covering sufficient to exclude the air, as the ter dency of the finely cut mass is to becom compact from it's own weight. Cutter ? costing from $50 or less upward to driven by light horse power, can be ha from dealers in agricultural implements.