Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-12

that one must answer for ones self after
consideration Of local conditions. Silos
have been and are great helps to many
farmers. The value Of silage was great
ly exaggerated In Its early history by
men whose minds were III balanced or
who were personally interested 10 the
sale Of patent rights or machinery.
Claims were made that could not be
true. No value can be taken from the
silo that has not first been put into It.
Silos are valuable because they will pre-
serve green food without drying, which
at times IL attended with much difficulty
and expense. Ii can also be stored In
less space than when cured dry.
Silsge IL well preserved Is usually more
palatable; more Is eaten, and conse-
Quently better returns are received. AS
the gain on the
COST OF CURING
Is one Of the largest items In the problem
the profit will be greatest when such
coarse folders ss stout corn are used
and least when fine materisl like medium
crops Of grass is used. The latter can
often be dried perfectly In day, while
the former could not be made flt 70 store
in two weeks.
In some seasons corn cannot be cured
in the open air. There may be some loss
In the silo. but not much compared to
what il incurred In rainy autumn when
sunshine alone Ia depended upon for
dying stout corn. But the factor OF
greatest influence In determining the
profit to be derived from silo Is the
character Of the
SOIL or THE FARM.
Little can be said In favor OF the silo
where the land is steep hillside, difficult
IN plow and cultivate, or unfit for pro-
ducing profitable corn crops. Some
land not fit for corn Is 80 well sdapted
10 grass that IL will produce heavily year
after year with little expense for culti
walton or fertilizers. Men owning such
land are usually not much In favor Of
silos. They are most profitable where
the land near the buildings Ia light and
easy TO plow and cultivate. There is a
| rye amount OF such land 10 the coun-
try. and where IL predominates the silo
has worked revolution In dairy farm
ing. The silo has greatly increased
THE MILK sUfPLY
that IL causing 40 much trouble to pro-
ducers at present. Farms located where
corn il easily raised have doubled the
amount OF stock kept, because sn acre OF
such land will produce twice "a much
csttle food 10 the shape Of corn a. II will
IL kept continually In grass. To raise
corn for two COWS may require more
labor than to secure hay enough for one.
But II Is labor that has promised profit,
and so many have hopefully performed
IL.
Under the teaching of such men as
Governor Hoard and John Gould the
farmers of the middle west have ex-
changed old methods OF raising grain for
shipment. and are feeding corn at home
to beef or dairy animals, frst putting
the corn In silos to have II convenient of
sccess during the winter when fierce
billiards might make unpleasant draw
ing or feeding from the fields. There Is
no doubt that this change has helped
cancel many
FARM MORTGAGES.
IL has also created new competitor In
the dairy markets OF the east. We have
got TO meet thst competition. and Ia
some cases the silo will msterislly aid Va
In so doing. Mr.. Gilbert of Maine has
not been an ardent advocate OF the silo,
partly, presume, because so much land
In his state Ia so natural TO grass that
hsy can be grown at a better profit than
can corn for the silO. With smooth land
and heavy crops Of grass hsndled with
modern lsbor-ssvine machinery the cost
If ton Of good hay Is less than its
equivalent In the form of corn silage
grown on cold. rough land that lies q
long wsy from farm buildings. So the
question OF a silo is one that each must
decide for himself after consideration Of
conditions. A few silos have been
abandoned, but new ones are being built
every year. which shows that time has
proved their value as an aid 10 profita-
ole farming. The cost Of building and
filing is not ss great as WAS formerly
believed necessary. Wood Is servlcesble
80 long as IL lasts, and Is better than
stone that L. not air tight. One OF the
main things IL TO have the walls upright
so the silsge will settle solid, and strong
enough to stand the pressure without
Welding. The silo should also be deep
rather than wide, for the deeper the bet
ter the contents usually keep. The corn
should also be riper than was formerly
deemed necessary. II too green the
silsge will be sour and pOor-New Eng
land Farmer.