Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-18
Why Not q Silo?
NOW Is THE TINE FOR THE FARMER TO
BEGIN TO CONSIDER 1T.

/ That the use of silos is on the increas,
Throughout the state of Maine is ampl,
proven by the results recorded by th,
statesmen and manufacturers who hav
silos on exhibition at the various Main,
fairs this fall. n. ID. Haskell of Me
chsnic Falls, who is general agent fo
one of the leading makes of silos, tol,
the editor of the Maine Farmer recently
that his visits TO the fairs had been very
profitable, aud he had discovered that
great many farmers were becoming in
terested in and were carefully iuvestigat
ing and studying the subject of the use
of silos.
Silos are a comparatively new thing
| they have not become so staple farm
appliance as the moving machine, and il
is but natural, therefore, that a great
many farmers should still be little un
certain regarding their usefulness and
utility. IL is also fact that some farm
ers are yet undecided whether or not the
use of silage is wise, whether it is good
for the cows or not.
And it is probable that great deal of
this uncertainty arises from miscon-
ception of what silage really is. There
are those who think of it as rotten curn,
and insist, therefore, that it is unfit for
food, likely to breed disease in cows,
and possibly through them the cause of
disease in human beings. One writer
has even suggested to the Maine Farmer
that it is cause of the spread of tuber-
culosis, both among cows and human
beings.
1t is perhaps not unnatural that this
false idea of the quality of silage should
obtain in the mind of person who did
not make a careful examination or in-
vestigation into the character of the
product, because of the fact that layer
on the top of the corn or other crop
packed into the silo cannot be kept from
spelling by its contact with the atmoS-
phere.
But the further fact and the most i'm
portant one connected with the silage
subject, is that this spelling or rotting
does not penetrate any considerable
depth into the silo, and all the great
mass of corn below it keeps sweet and
wholesome, in a condition that is greatly
relished by the cows and without any
doubt thoroughly salutary and favorable
to health, as well as tending TO promote
large milk production, as We all know it
is. 1t is not likely that cows would eat
and relish siisge if it was rotten prod
uct, for they are a more or less fastidious
set of animals.
The whole object of packing corn or
other crop products in the silo is to pre-
serve it and not to spoil it. As an evil
dence of the preserving possibilities OF
the silo, we cali to mind story told by
one of the members of the faculty of the
College of Agriculture of the University
of Maine at recent dairy meeting. He
had Just previously visited farm where
summer feeding of silage had been prac-
ticed 10 a moderate extent, and there he
had been shown a sample OF some OF the
silage, the condition of which indicated
that silage could be kept through hot
weather. The Professor said that he
tested the quality and condition of the
corn by eating portion OF small ear
which he found mixed with the stalks.
He found the kernels sound and whole
some as on the day they were put into
the silo, with Just enough of acidity to
give it an appetizing flavor. This is
lust the condition that silage should be
in.
Now is a good time for those farmers
who have not silos to begin to think
about setting up one. Ii one is to use
silo ne xt year, the plans must necessari-
ly be made some time ahead, for there is
not only the silo TO be purchased and
set up, but the place must be prepared,
foundations built, arrangements made
for raising the crop with which the silo
is to be filled, and also for the filling,
emptying, feeding TO the cattle, and the
general convenient handling of the
product. All of this will naturally take
considerable time to figure out, and If
one is going to attempt anything he
wants to be sure of his ground aud to
know where he is at.
The experiments of a great many farm
ers have demonstrated beyond any sort
of doubt that the use of silags for dairy
feed increases the milk production more
than any other thing and cheaper, and
all things considered there does not
seem to be any argument against the use
of silo. In many parts of Maine where
il is difficult 10 thoroughly mature field
corn on account of early frosts, the sllo
is an especially valuable adjunct to the
equipment of the farm.--Maine Farmer.