West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-07-18
WHAT ABOUT TIE srLo2

NhAA Adult Slut
That there should be some advance
made in silo knowledge, says John Gould
IN the american Agficulturist, is not sur
prising, when some fifteen thousand wide
awake farmers in this country are each
constituting himself as the director of an
experiment station, to find out for him
self how much new can be CHANGED upon
and yet score success. The wooden silo
las proved its claims rs q superior recep-
iacle for the preservation of silage, as it
not only less costly, but better non
conductor of heat, and therefore more
easily made frost proof; all of which
means more uniform temperature for the
nlage, and the nearer approach to the
IDEAL sweet silage There is some ques.
lion about the walls of the wooden silo,
whether to have them two boards thick.
with tarred paper between, or of one
thickness of matched lumber thoroughly
painted with hot asphaltum. The one can
De constructed with cheap, Gull pine lum-
Der, the other must have good. we'll
matched flooring, or an air tight wall can
lot be secured. Some hold that it is vet
better to lath and plaster the interior of
he silo to make it durable. Others insist
that they get even better wall by paint
ing with hot gas tar, in which some resin
s melted, or the use of the hard finish
isphaltum paints.
1t is settled that perfect development of
he corn plant is essential to the making
If good silage. Their planting and the
formation Of ears are, therefore, insisted
upon, as is also allowing the corn to stand
until the kernels have begun to enter tho
glazed condition before cutting for the
lilo. This fully developed corn, charged
With plant juices, on the verge of ma
urity when put in the silo, does not un-
1ergo the extreme ferment incident to
corn fodder less mature, and only de
Felops Tactic acid in a mild degree. The
other, with its juices less charged with
starch and sugar juices, passes in the silo
into more advanced stage of ferment
that often shows traces of acctic acid. IT
s now shown that corn had best be al
lowed to stand uncut until wanted, and
then put into the silo without the usual
TWO days willing. The willing is only
to reduce weight, but with more mature
fodder, this water means food value, and
willing fodder involves increased cost of
cutting, as it requires more power is not
cut as perfectly, and it cannot be shown
to be in any way better or even as good
silagc, as unwilted and more mature fod.
der.
With fodder of proper maturity the
work OF silo filing can be rushed along,
and the necessity of allowing each days
filing to heat 10 1875 degrees is obviated
When the silo is full it is allowed to
stand uncovered for four or even five
days to heat aud throw out the air. when
II is covered and sweet silage can be con.
ddently expected. Where there are two
pits, one may be filed, then the other
The first will have settled, when it can
be again filed 10 the top, and attention
then can be paid to No. 2.
1t was demonstrated last year that any
amount Of rain upon silage fodder before
going into the pits will not injure il OF
cause any increase of acidity. Last fall
thousands Of loads of fodder dripping
with rain, went into the pits but the silact
showed no evil effects from it., nor did g
frost near the close OF silo filing worl;
any noticeable injury 20 the silaoe. II
was also found that tramping is not TO be
encouraged untila after twenty -four hours,
when the silage has begun to wilt. Their
1t is only Of benefit along the walls to
assist in making il settle. Many cases
Of silage spelling along the walls result
from tramping when fresh cut. as it ex.
pels the air 20 an extent which prevents
it from taking on heat and willing along
the walls as fast as in the centre. Instead
Of keeping tie silo about level when
filling, it Is better 20 keep it the highest
along the walls, and thus get an even
distribution Of the grain without the
necessity Of keeping q man in the pits
ali the time.
a cover 10 the silo, or weights. are
wholly unnecessary. The silos I'm this
region that had no covers Of any sort did
not show more surface waste Of silape
than those covered with paper, boards
and sawdust. Only two or three inches
Of silage nodded where no surface pro
lection was used The two or thrc,
inches Of white mold made an air-tipht
cover that offered all the protection
needed. The silos covered with n foot
Of dry straw, well tread down. showed
the least loss Of any. Those who covered
closely aud weighted report the great
est loss. There IS no more necessity
weighing a silo than of putting tv
hundred pounds per square foot on a p,
fatO hcap.