The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-04-23
Points on the silo.

Now is the time for farmers to make
preparations for using the silo during
the coming winter. The ground must
be selected and put in condition to bear
a good crop of corn. In selecting the
ground, locate it as near the place where
the silo will be built as possible, so that
the green crop can be handled with as
little labor as possible. The ground can
not be made too rich or put into too good
cultivation; for it should be the aim of
the farmers to grow as many tons of
valuable fodder to the acre as possible.
Corn is preeminently the best crop for
the silo when all things are considered.
Other crops, such as clover, vetches,
oats, peas, sorghum, etc., have been
used with more or less success; but
when corn can be grown, these crops
have given way to the king.
Of the varieties of corn, best adapted
to this climate, little need be said, for
where one variety may be a success,
others might fail to meet the require
ments. The Evergreen sweet corn makes
excellent silage, but will not produce
quite as large yield per acre as some of
of the dent varieties. The Southern
ensilage corn, makes an enormous
growth in this valley, but does not
mature as early as some of the smaller
varieties. The Pride of the North, is a
good variety for general use. This is a
yellow dent variety, which makes a
medium growth; and produces an ear on
every stalk, which will reach maturity,
before there is any danger of frost.
In general, 1 believe better results
will be obtained, if seed can be OBJ
tanned which has been produced in the
locality. Corn is very susceptible to
climatic influences; and there is little
to be gained, by importing seed from
localities where the conditions are al
together different from those prevailing
in the vicinity where you wish to grow
the crop. There is no difficulty in
maintaining, and many times improv-
ing the corn crop, by carefully selecting
seed of your own raising. OF course
these remarks will only apply to local
tiles where the corn plant will reach full
maturity.
/ In the reports which have come to me
from points in this state, have yet to
learn of a single instance where the silo
has not given the most fattering salts
faction. Some who began with only a
small silo are building larger, and pro-
pose to use this method of feeding stock
animals, as well as dairy COWS. And
l,-s- Ia la
contemplate building, to build large
enough to meet future demands; for the
larger the silo the less loss there will be
in proportion to the amount of green
material stored. What mean by this is
is, that so or 100 tons thus stored in a silc
4 10x20-and twenty feet deep, will keer
more completely than twenty tons in 8
silo 10x10, and ten feet deep. The ad.
ditional weight caused by the increased
depth of the silo, will assist very much
in the keeping of the contents. At al
events, plant some corn, tend it well
|, build silo after harvest, cut the corr
when it begins to glaze, run it through 6
feed cutter, into the silo, keep it evenl,
spread as it goes in, tread it down il
corners, run some hay or straw on top
and next November or December yot
will have mint of feed which no futur,
, winter will see you without.
III. T. FRENCH,
Agricultural College, Corvallis, Or