Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-11-05
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Late experience has thrown strong
light on new sides of the silo problem
Many OF the early built silos have had
time TO show their weak points. Some
styles, fashionable for q time, have
proved poor keepers. wasteful Of the
ensilage and not durable. Many a
cheap silo has proved a costly invest
ment. IL a saving of $50 on FIRST cost
causes a needless waste each year of
$40 worth Of siiage the builder is pay
ing 40 per cent on his saving. a ruin
Gus rate. AlthougB cheap silos some
times pay, good me pay better. a y
American C~ultivator.
Most new silos are built partly be-
low ground, say three to seven feet,
which Is as far as drainage and con-
venience in feeding the contents will
usually permit. A start below ground
gives a support of earth, where the
strain is greatest. helps to protect from
frost and brings the top Of the silo
within reach OF a short carrier.
Importance OF ~SuccuIent Feed.
Unfortunately the period Of abundant
pasture is usually short. Almost every
season a drought more or less extended
gives trouble during July and August.
often in September. 1t is very impor-
rant to have some kind of ~succulent
feed for the COWS during such times or
they viii fall off In milk flow. Losses
OF this nature cannot be recovered dur
ing the ~lactatioD period. No amount Of
care and feed will bring the flow OF
milk back to the original amount If
nee allowed to run down. So far ST.
lage is the most satisfactory Substitute
for pasture TENNESSEE Farmer.
strong For the siIo.
The roughage for our cattle consists
OF alfalfa, which we grow at the rate
or four tons to the acre. and siiage
made from corn. which we grow at
the rate OF twelve tons to the acre.
We have put some alfalfa into the silo
With remarkably good results. and in
case the weather is wet at any cutting
this II the way we cure 1t. / would
not attempt to keep a dairy of five
cows or more without a silo. The one
which we are nov using liz sixteen
feet wide and thirty feet deep. 1t is
made of cypress without a knot in it.
Iou ask If a silo would pay on a
small farm. Ours is a small farm,
only about 100 acres, and still we keep
fifty head Of cattle on 1t, besides TWEEN
ty-ive sheep. We feed siiage to every
thing on the farm. including the hogs.
and believe that it is economy to do so.
IF. Il. Dawley In Farmers Guide.
Bran Feeds Well.
My judgment is that bran should
make up at least one-half by weight OF
Rows ration, says Director Hills of the
Vermont experiment station. / like il
not because 1t Is particularly rich. but
because Of its light, ilaky character
and because it helps Tighten the RAJ
ton. 1t is less digestible than TIE
heavier feeds. yet seems to aid diges-
tion.
The remainder may be made up OF
cotton seed and linseed or cotton seed
and gluten. One OF the best rations
we have used contained i've pounds
OF bran, one ana a half pounds OF cot
tonseed and one and a half pounds OF
linseed meals.
Pnsture and Grain.
In an experiment made by the Cor
nell experiment station it was found
that cows OF pasture alone gave more
milk then those on the same pasture
with a grain ration added, but an
equal amount OF fat. This lasted only
while the pasture was at its best. The
Kansas station Increased the dow OF
milk, bnt not sufficiently to pay Tor
the additional cost OF the feed.