The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-29
Farm Note S


In re5ponce to numerous inquiries
regarding the use of the silo in storing
food for stock the following report OF
work done in this line ut the Oregon
experiment station has been pre-
pared.
A small silo was built in the barn
on the station farm In 1889. 1t con-
sisted of a portion OF the lower floor,
10xl2 feet, partitioned of with 2x6
studding, placed - inches apart, and
extending to the upper hoor, 10 feet
above On the side next the side OF
the barn the studs were is inches
apart. Inc moor OF the silo was haae
on the ground, is inches below the
barn moor, making the siio lizs Ieet
oeep- Inc seuoaihS was eoaroea IL
siue Win common rougii iuhiper rum
hing across the stuus. iarreu pulia-
ing paper was placed on Ihis' tapping
enough TO break JOINTS. then cover
ing OF matchea noor1hg running up
ana down was put over tne paper
iiiaAihs sinoeth anu air-tisno wall
a coat Oh not gas tar ana RESIN was
pus On 1he iase coNerihe.s-.o Proeecs
tne iuihper from the not Juices Oh the
siiage, Inc TAR ana resin was used
IN the proportion OF one pound OF resin
10 one gaiion Oh tar. rms portion Oh
the siio mas oeen niied the thiru time
ana there Is no sign oil decay IN the
iumper- Ihere was no moor IN the
siio wheh iiiieo the hfst tine' simply
the ground covered Win Two OF three
ihches OF pounded SraVel. rms
worked All Ilgnt until the fals louhd
OUT the merlts OF siiage ana began
explorations. A cement bottom mas
SINCE peen put N 10 protect the silo
from these rodents.
Many use plank iioors and are much
pleased with them; observing the
same precautions that are taken In
the construction OF the wails-namely;s
to keep out the air and vermin, and to
make it strong enough to support the
great weight OF the green silage.
In the fall OF 1889 the silo was
partially filed with corn of several
varieties, grown on the experimental
plats and on the farm. About Is tons
were available for silage, hence the
silo was only partially filled. The fill
ing was delayed by the cutter not
arriving on time. On account OF this
delay the corn was very badly FROST
bitten, so much so that when cut the
leaves were dry and brittle. Notwith-
standing this condition of the fodder
it made excellent feed, none being re-
fused py the stock. The silo was
filed the first week in October.
After filling the siic tarred paper
was spread over the top, and loose
boards laid over this, with about half
of cord of fir wood placed on the
boards to hold them in position and
press them down in a measure. There
was comparatively little weight, and
even this may be dispensed with, as
many have determined in practice.
When the silo was opened january
1, 1890, there was a few inches OF poor
silage on the top. This was removed
to the manure pie and feed1ng begun.
All the covezing was removed from
the top, which is thought to be the
best method, as there is no loss when
layer Is taken on every day or two
fgr feeding.
There We're no animals on the farm
that had ever been fed on silage, yet
some OF them ate it at once and all
soon became very fond OF it. 1t is
pest TO ieed only a little OF the sllage
at nrs.' as IN the case Oh any new KIND
o.. Oh 1000 ahi,nals nave 10 iearn 10 eat IT.
ne aiiiiilaas "ere gwen one Ieeo eticn
uay lof ie" uays' pu1 laler two
leeas were giVen' constituting ehe
man ration. A small ration Oh pfan
was given to cows giving milk.
Better results are realized IL there is
49, saad ~ r., ,,atar;.,I r,;,,a, -,
oho hoeu "a uis hiaeei iai Sisen ea"n
day, or the animals are given the
privilege Of the straw stack. believe
straw can be utilized very satisfac-
Iii, a,han "a ~ this ,ra,,