The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-06-15
THE DAIRY
Silo Talk by a Veteran.
Oh. M. Bobertson.)

rived at after using the Silo for TWEEN
ty years is, that it is always BEST when
finishing the filling, to leave the CEN
ter several feet higher than at the
sides. This appears at first to leave
more surface exposed, but really does
not, for. in settling the contents press
more firmly against the sides at the
same time leveling in the center. II
left level on the surface, the center
settles most and loosens from the
walls, permitting air to enter and is
likely to lead to loss. Have later
variety of corn to finish with or wet
the silage with water as it is spread
in the silo during the several last
loads and fifty to seventy-fve pals
of water on the covering when it is
put on. Wet sawdust is the best COW
ering I have ever used. When the
filling is piled up four feet higher in
the center than at the sides, sloping
to the sides, tramping firmly to make
it all as solid as possible, smoother off
evenly and throw on the sawdust.
There is usually (not always) lit
tie silage spoiled and by Shoveling the
sawdust off, this decayed leathery sur
face may be removed without leaving
ANYTHING Objectionable. The covering
resolves itself to this: If the last OF
the filling dries out by evaporation
from the heat, which always develops,
that much will be spoiled and little
additional. for if left several months,
the silage will coat over with leath-
cry mould formation which will be
where it is sufficiently moist. So the
amount of water added is that amount
to restrain saturated degree of wet
ness in the covering and that amount
will be governed by the kind OF ma
terial used as covering. Freshly
threshed straw or chaff will develop
quite a degree of heat within itself.
Perhaps because of being so open it
evaporates a considerable quantity OF
water, but old partially decayed straw
will retain moisture better, while wet
sawdust, if saturated thoroughly, will
give off moisture very slowly
The quantity of silage eaten by the
animals will be governed by the
acidity it contains and this depends
upon the maturity Of the crop. 10
feed literally of silage in case OF
shortage of hay let the corn stand
until matured but not weatherbeaten
and bleached, when very likely little
water will need be added as it is
spread in the silo from the cutter to
give it sufficient moisture. | have had
a single COW eat more than one hun
dred pounds each day continuously
for two weeks. Two-thirds of the
grain had been removed. This is to
saw she ate a bushel and half bas-
ket full with four pounds of wheat
bran additional and did we'll on it,
civ o1o
kind of disorder nor anything any
time following.
Sour silage from immature corn is
not palatable to animals. Ihey Will
not eat very mucn and it disarranges
the digestive organs, as the feedlng
literally of raw potatoes does.
To wet the silage with water one
needs a tank with hose attached and
do the wetting as the spreading Is
done, for this distributes the water
more evenly. Some may say 1t is non
sense to talk about using water, out
we have not found it so in the least
in fact, some of the very best Stage
is made by that method. Nelghpors
may be exchanging work or you are
not able to nire sufficient help and the
first corn is not put in when III, max
ing the last cutting late 1t may De
too dry and the moisture question gov
ems the matter of quality, and quail,
ity is first. Quality is also governed
somewhat by the equal distribution
of the heavy and light portions, also
by tramping thoroughly, expelllng the
air as we fill the silo.
The diameter of the silo is also very
important in controlling quality, Tor
if lacking a little in moisture and the
surface is not removed rapidly enough
in warm weather, even in weather as
me have had this winter, it may form