The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-03-20
FARMERS COLUMN.
Silo and Ensilage.

COTTAGE GROVE, Kans., March II,
lS9l.-EditOr Register: 1 have not
forgotten my promise made you
months ago to tell the REGISTERS
readers something about my "Sllo and
Ensilage," and my long delay in full
filling that promise has been OCCASION
ed by some disappointment in my
plans.
You, as well as many of the REGIS
TER patrons, are aware of the fact
that 1 have been rather an enthusiast
ic advocate of the F. NJ. b. A. /
have very earnestly desired to see my
brother farmers organized for Mutual
benefit" and while I expected we
would make some mistakes 1 had
hoped we would have the good sense,
forbearance, energy and perseverance
to keep OH trying until we would
finally accomplish much good. Hav-
ing given n good deal of thought to
this ensilage question and becoming
convinced that it was a good thing !
had planned that after making a thor
Ough practical test of it L would give
you short article on the question and
then visit personally as many lodges
of the +. NJ. b. a. as might desire
more detailed information. Finding
our lodges somewhat demoralized last
fall hoped when the long winter
evenings came,-the farmers time for
planning future operations,- would
come together again and, profiting by
few mistakes, get down to legitimate
business more earnestly than ever.
But now comes my disappointment.
Our leaders get together and resolve
to abando our organization and turn
their attention to secret, bound
political party AS 1 have always
been inclined to take my politics clear
openly and withal rather independent
ly, 1 am left out, and in fact so far as
having any farmers organization in
our county having in view the better
ing of our condition through better
education, better far ming and better
stock, 1 do not und erstand that we
have any. Still / am persuaded there
are a good many farmers in Allen
county who would be glad to learn of
more economical modes of saving feed
for stock than the old way we have so
long followed. This the silo will do.
While most farmers have read some-
thing about slices and ensuage, 1 find
not few who, when 1 speak of my
silo, ask "What is q siio?" Briefly
stated, a silO is room or apartment
made with bottom and sides practical
~ air-tight, tor the purpose of storing
green food for stock, som ewhat ON the
same principle that green fruit is cam
ned for future use. ED silage is the
feed so preserved. While great va
riety of forage crops are successfully
used for ensilage, yet it is believed our
common field corn m axes the best feed
of anything yet discovered. In fact
me,-judging from my OWL ex-
perience,-I tan hare lily see how any
thing could be better.
Slices may be built of wood, stone
Or brick; they may lie entirely above
ground or partly abov and partly be-
low or wholly under ground, but how
ever built they must not admit of
water getting into them. They may
have ground floor, and if perfectly
drained that is sufficient; but if there
8 any danger of water rising in it, il
should bo ccmcDtod. Tho walls must
DO strong 10 resist prsssure;' if built
If wood, studding 2xl3 should be used,
he inside covered with tarred paper
IND then boarded up with with match
ID lumber and painted. The outside
,ould be covered with common siding
II "ship-lap." 1t is better to have
lilo deep.-not less than sixteen feet
md the more the better; it gives
lfdh weight, wluhh is NEEDED tonraAe