Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-02-03
An Essential For DaIrylnQ.
From the Country Gentleman.

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The eastern dairyman has long beer
familiar with the use of silos and has come
to regard them as just as necessary for the
proper preservation Of his corn as his NOV
is tor his hay or his granary for his Drain.
The dairymen of the West have been some
what slow about it. but we have been sur
prised at the development in the use of silos
in the great dairy States of the West
during the past two years. Dairymen
in that region are becoming as glad to
adopt the ensilage system as those of the
East have been. II is to readers who are
engaged in the dairy business, but who
have not yet adopted the ensilage system,
that we wish to speak. The majority of
them undoubtedly think they cannot afford
the expense of silo. AS matter of
fact, the securing of silo will prove to be
the laying down of one dollar and the
picking up OF two almost Immediately, for
II has been the almost universal experience
that the full cost of the silo will be re-
turned promptly the first winter and again
each succeeding winter. II Is no longer an
experiment but an established fact that
the use of the silo is both economy and
convenience. If ready money is not avail
able with which to secure a silo, il will
pay to sell one or two cows. Eight good
cows with rich, succulent ensilage will render
decidedly more profitable returns than ten
or twelve cows kept and fed in any other
way
Much has been written about the form
and style of silos One thing is certain
cheaply built silo is neither economical
nor satisfactory. The unfavorable attitude
of the Borden Company toward ensilage,
which was maintained for so many years.
undoubtedly originated through the use of
unsatisfactory silos among their customers.
Even the best friends of that silo do not
claim that decayed or moldy ensiage makes
feed suitable for maintaining the health of
the cattle or producing an increase flow of
milk 1t pays in the long run to erect
durable, alright, rigid structure. The
deeper the silo, the greater the pressure
and the more compactly will the ensilage
be pressed together. To be well proper
toned the height Of the silo should be at
least twice as great as its diameter. As
ensilage contains over rs per cent. of wa
ter, II Is a heavy feed to handle, and to
avoid unnecessary labor in feeding the
silo should contain an opening permitting
easy access, and should be placed as near
the manger as possible, preferably at one
end of the feed alley. The AVERAGE daily
ration is about AS pounds per COW.
TO those who do not own silos 1t is our
advice that the matter receive consdera-
ton at once. The winter is upon us, dur
ing which the average dairyman has more
time to make preparation for securing
silo than at any other time of the year
Whether you build or buy, make it point
to get first-class silo. One with an all
open front is always preferred Don't try
to save dollar by erecting cheap silo.
Build or erect one which has strong,
well braced front, for the front is the
weakest part Of the silo, and If not thor
ouehly braced II will give trouble. If our
advice is followed, dollars can be reaped
from those sloless daires which are now
producing dimes.