Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-09-21
CROPS FOR THE SlLO.
The Cost of Production Need Not Ex-
coed 90 Per Ton


Messrs. Soule and Fain Of Tennessee
have reported the results Of expert.
ments as to the merits OF different
plants. especially corn and sorghum,
when grown for silage.
Sorghum and corn and sorghum were
planted in rows two, two aud IL half.
three and three and half feet apart.
Corn and soy beans were grown In
rows three and two feet apart respec.
lively. The average cost of ton OF
sllage from sorghum. corn. corn and
sorghum and SOY beans was Sl4l, 81,
S1.SG and S2S3 respectively. The yield
varied considerably with the distance
Of planting. While the largest yield OF
sorghum. 1913 tons per acre, was OBJ.
talned from the closest planting. II Is
believed that three foot rows for sor
ghum. corn and corn and sorghum are
more desirable when tile convenience
and cost of cultivation are considered.
The cost of growing an acre OF sor
ghum. corn, corn and sorghum ana soy
beans for sllage was Sl9.4S, $l402.
Sl0.l4 and sl9,S6 respectively.
Cooke Prolific and Virginia ensilags
corn were grown for three years on =
total area of 1893 acres The largest
yields were obtnned from three foot
rows These varieties mutIired on an
average in los days and produced 7.i5
tons per acre at a cost Of 1921 per ton
IL Is estimated that In favorable sea
sons the cost OF producing corn silage
need not exceed $3.50 per ton.
During the last four years n total Of
1896 acres OF sorghum was grown ut
the station. aud the sllage obtained
from the crops was produced at an av.
srage cost of S1.52 per ton. OF the va
retles grown Red Head, partly because
1t stands up well, proved to be one OF
the best for silage purposes. The aver
age rate Of seeding in these tests was
73 pounds per acre and the average
Of days required for the crops
to mature 49, 1t Is stated that as q
frst crop sorghum will yield from
twelve to twenty tons per acre. while
from the second crop not more than |
from eight to nine tons can be expect |
ed. The cost of silagc per ton from |
first crops ranged from $ll5 to $l.7S
The average cost from second crops
was about $3.50 Red IIeud sorghum
and Virginia cnslage corn were grown
IN combination with satisfactory 70
,uts.
The effects on the quality ~ silage
he yield and the cost OF production
we're all IN favor Of growing these
'rops together MS compared with corn
lone Grown In combination the crop
equred II days to mature and yield
ID on an average 1914 tons per acre at
cost Of S1.S5 per ton The lowest cost
'er ton was $l.Ii and the highest 500
u ono instance the combined crop con
listed of &c per cent of corn and "a per
ent OF sorghum. and in another 10 per
ent OF corn and s. per cent OF sor-
hum. 1t Is suggested that about twelve
ounds of corn and five pounds of sor
hum seed be used per acre and plant.
d in rows two and a half or three feet
part. Peas were grown with corn and
Drghum for tho purpose OF increasing
ne protein content OF the sIlage. but
be quantity of the peas in the crop
ever exceeded 15l per cent and in
ONO instances amounted to only ) or
per cent This quantity was insuff.
lent TO materially influence the com
OsitioD of the sllage.
Mammoth Yellow soy beans produced
D average OF 10 tons per acre. About
nlf bushel Of seed was used per
ere. The crop required l3S days to
ature. and the cost OF the silago per
IN was S2.S3. The slags was not pal
able TO cattle. and the authors be-
eve that soy beans for silags should
, grown with corn or sorghum rather
AN alone