The Forrest City times., 1892-04-29
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
 SiLoS AND ENSiLACE.
How to Build and Fiii Them Important Information Abou. sorghum-Poul- try Pickings and House
 Hold Helps.
siIo. and Ep<IIaec.


 ties, l will say that the silo is decid- edly success says a writer in the Ohio Farmer, especially for farmers who take an interest in milk and but ter production from their cows as it has been proven that cows fed on en- silage show a gain of l5 to % per | cent in their production of milk and show large gam in flesh and are more hearty than those fed on dry hay or fodder alone. The silo Is evidently one of the important steps toward im- proved agriculture, and one which Is being rapidly adopted among the en- | terprising farmers all over the United States who are interested in the | proper care and feeding of their stock. l And l will say right here that the time of experimenting with silos is a thing of the past for they are de- | cided success wherever tried.
 As to putting in cornfodder in a whole state for ensilage. it would hardly Dc advisable although it has been tried. and makes very good feed for cattle when the fodder is har- vested before the stalks are matured, i but it Is very tedious work 10 remove l it from the silo at the time of feeding. The best results are received by filling with fodder that has been grown from | ground sown broadcast and narrowed | in about the hrst or middle of June. and then harvested during tho first | half of September with an ordnary grain reaping machine; or SOW the corn in rows four feet apart with Q seed drill so it can be cultivated. and | you will get more thrifty fodder and n larger per centage of ears of corn This should be harvested as soon as the ears of corn reach their milky state and stored in the silo as soon as | convenient after harvested A ma chine of some kind should be em- | ployed that the fodder may be cut up in pieces about to l inch in length. | If you can not afford machine | yourself talk silo to some of your neighbors get them 10 join you and build large silo in compartments or each build one of his own and then | purchase machine On shares. Al though this would not be advisable in some neigh borhoods 1t might work in | others.
 | In harvesting the fodder care should be taken to remove all rag 1 weed possible as 1t makes enslage bitter and cattle will dislike it; other weeds does not natter Cattle in gen eral. unaccustomed 10 this kind Of feed. will at first dislike it. but will l soon become accustomed to it and in a short time will eat it before they will touch other feed. As to using clover hay in u silo. it has been tried. but do not give as profitable results as fodder as heavy crop Of clover cut for silo filling will only yield about half the quantity of Il crop of fodder corn per acre.
 | It is a very great mistake to sup pose that all silos must be built Of stone and have cement floorin them. as they can be built of lumber equally as we'll and need not have stope or cement floor, as great many farmers are inclined to think thus ignoring silos for fear they are too expensive to be profitable. They are not by any HednS, II consFucecu on the TIE ul plan.
 | l would say to MT. Singleton 8 | question of using green oak lumber that if he has it sawed early in the spring and stacked up immediately. so that it may be in the dry and cure out during the heated summer sea- son. he can use 1t in the fall for con | ct, tg sfl al I'm, l1s.s. thoroughly cured will give the best results. yet such lumber as his can be used successfully.
 In regard 10 the construction Of a silo. there are great variety of styles built and used successfully Mir. Singleton does not say whether he will build his silo in the barn or out of doors. Of course he will use his own judgment as to that and if out of doors what appearances it is to have also it's shelter. Below l will give a few dimensions and directions which may be of value m the construction of his silo:
 The dimensions are l2 by l6 fl. and 10 1t high may Do constructed of rough lumber, and fl convenient matched siding for inside. althoug h rough unmatched boards may be used but should be plastered or coated with mixture of water. iime and fine sand If the matched siding is used it should be painted inside with iron clad paint as it will preserve the silo lining and make it more durable The floor may be made of clay packed solid. making cheap and good floor The above dimensions will hold enough ensilage to feed j head ol cows for about months. providing you feed them 90 pounds per day. which makes very good days rationi for one COW.