Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-09
Rules for Ensilage.

AS many farmers are now prepsring to
build slices, we offer the following sug-
gestions;
1. Slices should be made deep or high
when practible, so that the ensfiage it
self may exert a greater pressure On ali
below.
2. The bottom should be on level with
the stable iH0or, SO as to admit of easier
feeding.
8. It may be filed in at the top, either
by means of q carrier driven 'by the ma
chine in cutting; or on an elevated bridge
or oauseway.
4. II the silo stands on g steep hill
side, an earth road may beTmade to carry
RD the loads Of stalks to tie cutteg and
siIo.
5. The silo may be constructed of
timber and pleak, anu while it lasts will
De as good SIS when 'Suilo OF costly mason
~.
6. Coed walls may beznade Of boards
or plank, na34ed On the two sides of
stiff timber fcame forming an ar space
lined with CARED building paper, to
make it air tight end prevent freezing
much.
z. If the planks are we'll soaked with
petroleum., they will lest many years.
The portion Dex5 to the earth may be-
treated with gas tar; or it may be of mas
.oary.
8. A plank door, capable of being
strongly 5srred, should open aeKt to the
passage toward the stable.
80. If the walls are fairly even, 1t will
make nc difference in the settling of the
-ensilage whether the oplanks are set up
right or horizontal.
| 10. The bottom o. floor should have
perfect drainage.
IL. Shoes ct mode-ate sizes or larger
ones with divisions, ere more convenient
for filing and employing, provided the
cutter oaa easily be paced to feed all,
II. After filing the silo, daring Sue
cessive days, 'the contents will settle In
the course of G weeksyer two, SO about two
thirds of their former bulk.
Is. Nnsilage after settling will weigh
about forty-fEe po0ads 10 taeoubic foot,
If cut short and weighed heavily; but viii
| be considerably less in weight at top ST
cut longer and not weighted.
RAISING and MAsEAeINa sge2DEB.
IA. a ton OF good, ensilage contains nc.
more nutriment than an equal amount of
well dried and cut veornstaaks, but it Isl
liked better By oattleand is better assiui-
lated, digesteG, and gees further than the
dry fodder.
Is. TT has yearly tie same advantage
as green food given AZ summer.
16. Two modes are .adoptedsin raising
the stalRs-p!anting il thick drills, and
thus obtaining the heaviest crop, with nc
grain; or thinner, and obtaining fewer
stalks, with soEe corn.
IL. The grain obviates feeding dry
meal with ensilage, aaJ it is believed
10Y many to be more profitable than
the heavier thick crop requiring some
meal.
Is. The best ,ensiIaee is obtained by
allowing tho stalks TO rigen enough to let
She grain glaze, and the leaves to dry on
their edges. FaiIlres result when cutting
700 green.
10. Froaa four TO six inches apart in
the row is 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 or
good growing northern corn, planted
thicker than large southern, will yield
from fifteen to twenty tons of green
stalks to the acre on rich land. Large
corn will yield rather more in stalk bat
less IL grain.
81. Cutting the fodder half an inch in
length admits closer packing liz 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 she silo in filing; the central |
portion wall become solid without much |
tramping.
%, WeightiDg the silo packs the top
lager more nearly air-tight; leaving it ex
posed causes several inches to rot On the |
top. A layer of several inches of Cry |
straw holds portion of the steam from |
the hot ensilags and tends TO lessen the |
rotting.
"a weight of hundred pounds to |
the square foot is ample. 1t may be
stones laid On plank cover; or it may be |
sand sawdust, earth, bags of grain, or tubs |
OF water on the plank, according 20 con-
venience. Weights are better than screws,
because continuous,