The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-04-27
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
NOUSEHOLD AND AGRICULTURAL
TOPICS DISCUSSED.
A budget of Useful Information Relating
10 the Farm, Orchard, Sta Bile, ParloT, and
Kitchen.
THE FARM.
Rules for Ensiiage.


/. Silos should be made deep or high
when practicable, so that the ensilage
itself may exert greater pressure on all
below.
2. The bottom should be on level
with the stable floor, SO as to admit of
easier feeding.
3. 1t may be filled in at the tor, either
bv means of n carrier driven by the ma
chine in cutting; or On an elevated bridge
or causeway.
f. If the silo stands on a steep hill
side, an earth road may be made to carry
up the loads of stalks to the cutter and
silo.
5. The silo may be constructed of tim
her and plank, and while 1t lasts will
be as good as when built of costly
masonry.
6. Good walls may be made of boards
or plank, nailed on the two sides of a
stiff timber frame forming an air-space
lined with tarred building paper, to make
it alright and prevent freezing much.
7. If the planks are well soaked with
petroleum, they Will last many years.
The portion next to earth may be treated
with gas tar; or it may be of masonry.
s. \ plank door, capable of being
| strongly barred, should open next to the
passage towards the stable.
8. Ii the walls are fairly even, il will
| make no difference in the settling of the
| ensilage whether the planks are set up
| right or horizontal.
10. The bottom or floor should have
| perfect drainage.
IL. Silos of moderate size, or larger
! ones with divisions, are more conyeu-
lent for filling and emptying, provided
the cutter can be easily placed to feed
all.
Il. After filling the silo, during sue
| cessive days, the contents VIII settle In
| the course of week or two to about two
| thirds of their former bulk.
Is. Ensilage, after settling, will weigh
| about forty-tive pounds to the cubic foot
| if cut short and weighted heavily; but
| will be considerably less i'll weight at
| top if cut longer and not weighted.
| Il. ton of good ensilage contains nc
more nutriment than an equal amount of
| we'll dried and cut cornstalks, but it is
| liked better by cattle, and is better as
simulated digested, and goes further
than the dry fodder.
Is. 1t has nearly the same advantages
| as green food given in summer.
1G. Two modes are adopted in raising
| the stalks planting in thick drills, and
| thus obtaining the heaviest crop, with
no grain; or thinner, and obtainin 3
| fewer stalks, with some corn.
II. The grain obviates feeding dry
| meal with the ensilage, and is believed
| 10y many to be more profitable than the
| heavier thick crop requiring some
meal.
IS. The best ensilage is obtained by
| allowing the stalks to ripen enough tC
| let the grain glaze, and the leaves to dry
hai Roll bau
| cutting too green.
| 10. From four to six inches apart in
| the row is a suitable distance for the
| stalks; small corn and sweet corn nearer
| than large southern corn.
20. The amount of fodder which may
| be grown on an acre depends chiefly on
| the richness Of the soil. Common OF
| good growing northern corn, planted
| thicker than large soutf ern, viii yield
| from fifteen or twenty tons of green
| stalks to the acre on rich land. Large
| corn viii yield rather more III stalks but
| less in grain.
u. Cutting the fodder half an inch in
| length admits closer packing in the silo
and prevents the making of long fibrous
| manure. If three or four inches, it is
| better than the whole length.
%. Thoroughly tramp around the
| edges of the silo in filling; the central
| portion will become solid without much
tramping.
%. Weighting the silo parks the tor
| layer more nearly air-tight, leaving il
exposed causes several inches to rot OF
| the top. A layer of several inches 81
| dry straw holds a portion of the steam
from the hot ensila9e, and tends tC
lesson the rotting.
q. A weight of hundred pounds tc
the square foot is ample. 1t may be
| stones laid on plank cover; or it may bt
| sand, sawdust, earth, bags of grain, oil
| tubs of water on the plank, according tc
convenience. Weights are better thar
| screws, because continuous.
%. In feeding out, expose as little O.
the ensilage to the air as convenient
either by cutting down perpendicularly
| in successive sections, or in small silos
with large herd, by taking off successive
| layers over the whole surface. C0HBtr3
| GfutIPmdu,