The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-15
S|LO As A SIGN
Of PROSPERITY
on OTHER FARM DEVICE so M
MEDi aTELY BECOMES PROFIT
PRODUCER
CONSTRUCTION COST
INTERESTING EXPERIMENT IN
PROGRESS AT ILLINOIS STATION
on USE or sILAGE AND
ALFALFA
CONS RUCTION

are both the signs and producers of
! prosperity, the great ma jority of the
Virginia farmers are still without
them. The silo will pay its construc-
ton cost the first year, which can
BE- said Of mighty few Investments
In building.
Mr.. ]. f. Dorman, a silo expert
writes In recent number of the
Farm World. Of Augusta. Maine. in
a most instructive manner relative to
the advantages of the silo, It's cost
and method of operation;
! III dairy farmer were told that
he could roll silver dollars down a
hill and then pick up two dollars for
every one he rolled down. and this
statement was verified by some of
his neighbors and hundreds Of other
dairy farmers in the country. that
farmer would stay UP nights 10 roll
the dollars. But when told that he
could double the profits by the Use
ent and keeps on in the same old
rut. feeding dry feed. wasting nearly
half Of his corn crop and doing q
lot of unnecessary work.
IN these days OF close competition
dairymen should be ready to take
advantage OF every opportunity to re-
duce the cost OF production. and it
will be found that 1t is easier. If
the proper methods are used, To do
that than to raise the selling price
Of the dairy products. The results
are the same--a large profit.
In the corn plant about 40 per
cent. Of the feeding value Is In the
stalk. and so per cent. in the ear
When the ear alone is fed nearly
half Of the corn crop Is wasted.
Where the dry stalks are fed. at
least half of them remain uneaten.
while IF stored in the silo the loss
is almost nothing.
Every dairyman knows that cows
will do their best on fresh June pas
ture. The grass IL succulent and pal
atabfe and the conditions for max
imum milk flow are ideal These
conditions, however, do not last very
long.
supplies Ideal Conditions.
The silo comes as near TO supply
ing the ideal conditions as anything
that can be faund. and n IS available
every day in the year. It provides
a uniform feed for every one of the
twelve months
Highly sensitive dairy cows resent
any sudden or violent change in feed
and will show 1t by a decreased milk
flow. The change from fail pasture
~ Ri lEetl lS Always IoiiONEu bY n
shrfnkage in the milk.
In changing from the pasture to
Tire eifnse, the change ia not so great
and often the cows increase the flow
OF milk when started on stlage. Sew
eral datrymen have recently made
the statement that the increased pro-
fits paid for the silo the first year
Here are the figures from one dairy
man who has kept strict account
Of his herd for three years:
1910. Average net profit per cow. $50
1909. Average net profit per cow. 80
1908. Average net profit per cow so
! This fs in a herd of sixteen cows
and slage was fed during the year
~ 1910. Figure 1t out yourself and
see how much the siIo was worth to
him.
Silage is not a complete ration for
n dairy cow. Silage is high In carho-
hvdrates, and some concentrates or
roughage with a high protein content
4 should be FED with IT. such as wheat
bran. oil neal, cottonseed meal or
| alfalfa or clover hay
AT the Illinois Experiment Staff n
II is reported that selected herd
OF cows were being maintained on
alfalfa hay and corn sflage alone.
The cows are In excellent condition
and have made good yields and a
good profit
Every dairyman should make an
effort to grow alfalfa and put up
Stage. II Is great combination. and
all home grown, This constant buy
ing of milk fee dis what cuts down
the profits and should be eliminated
as far as possible.
When II Is considered that corn
can be grown so easily, and in every
f,f hA a.
the head OF the list OF forage crops
for this purpose.
The yield in feeding value and the
convenience of handling make 1t the
best silage crop.
The yield will range from 10 to
20 tons per acre on good soil and
EVEN higher yields have been re-
ported. AT Is tons per acre, one
acre Will furnish roughage enough
for two cows for every day in the
year. or four cows during a feeding
period OF six months. What other
crop VIII do that.
Other crops can be used. such as
sorghum or cowpeas In combination
with either sorghum or corn. The
cowpeas improve the sifage, for II
adds protein. but the yield is small
and difficult to harvest.
| In selecting a variety or corn for
silage. always use one that will ma
ture It's grain. Other things being
equal select a variety that produces
a large fodder. as the yield will be
greater.
There are special ensilage varieties,
such as Virginia ensilage corn" but
before trying any OF these, be sure
to know whether or not 1t will ma
ture In your locality.
| Method of Planting
Corn can be planted somewhat
thicker than generally used in grow
ing grain. but not thick enough to
Iprevent the good-ear development.
One dairyman. who has had good
lsuccess In growing corn for the silo,
kContinued on Fourth Tagsl