Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-02
How to Fill the Silo.

Corn should be we'll glazed and nearly
ready to be cut for corn fodder before II
is fit to put in the silo. If it is cut too
green there is a larger unavoidable loss of
dry matter than when put in more ma
turo. If it is too ripe the stalk becomes
too woody and too much of the nourish
ment has been stored in the ear to leave
the balance of the plant most palatabie.
Rate of Filling 1t is not d matter oi
a ~ great Importance how rapi dly silo
Is filled. 1t may be filed in two days if
desirable, or the filling may extend over
period of three weeks if the corn does
not get too matured. If the corn is planted
SO as to ripen at a little d fferept times,
two men and team with a tread powe,
may easily fill an S0-ton silo in three
werrs The idea that corn must be
IL he6 INTO the silo is wrong, and SO Is the
idea lat 1t must stand and hest for a
certain time 1t is bitter 10 fiji slowly
because then the Stage has time to settle
better and SO more can be stored in the
same space. Then in the square silos
where the danger from spreading is great
it is much better to fill slowly, as this
avoids, in q large measure, the strain on
the sides. Four men and two teams can,
of course work to better advantage than
two men and one team, and where
neighbors arc so situated that they can dc
so it is good plan to change work, filing
one or two days in one place and then il
the other
Tramring the Silage When Filling
The tramping OF the silage in square silos
during the whole process of filing is a
very important matter, especially In the
corners, and the need becomes more and
more urgent the nearer the top of the silo
is reached. In deep round silos which
are more than IS feet in diameter, the
man In the silo may be dispensed will
until the sDo is half full, it only being
necessary to go in and level down occa
s!onally. The upper half Of all silos
should be thoroughly tramped.
Covering the Silage.--If ding is t.
begin at once after filling no cover is
needed, and where green corn is being
fed to COWS in tho fall the feeding OF
silage from the silo may begin from the
day the siIo is flied No time ia necessary
for it to stand before it is ready to feed,
1t the sllo is to stand only few weeks,
thsn the surface of The silagc during three
consecutive days after filing, should be
thoroughly tramped, and at the end of
this time the surface should DO wet with
Is to 20 pounds of water to the square
foot From this to five days later it
should be tramped again, and again wet
down with about 10 pounds of water to
the square foot. When this has beer
done the surface should not again be dis
turbed until it is proposed to feed the
silage. If the siio is to stand until after
Christmas before opening, it may be best
to provide cover if something cheaper
than Is pounds of silage to the square
foot of surface can be had. In our silo
the past year, which stood until the last
of March with no other cover than thai
provided by wetting the surface as de
Scribed, there was loss of about two
tons OF silage on a surface of III square
feet. If marsh hay can be had, this, cut
on and thoroughly wet makes an excel
lent cover. Chaff thoroughly wet also
m axes a good cover. Two layers of
boards with paper between, put on after
wetting and thoroughly tramping, will
avoid nearly all spelling. Whatever is
provided as a cover, it should rest directly
upon the silage and be allowed to settle
with it.-Prof. f. H. King in New Eng
land Homestead