Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-02-15

and general discussion was enjoyed
and proved instructive to all.
Afternoon Session.
At the afternoon session Prof. J.
H. Sheppard Of the Agricultural Col
lege, gave an interesting discourse
upon Corn" He handled the sub
ject in all its phases and ardently
impressed upon his hearers the ne
cessity of giving more attention to
this food for the dairy COW. Many
notes of his lecture were taken down
by the assembled dairymen and the
farmers Of the slope who were pres
ent, on account of his having for
many years worked along these lines
to ascertain for the people Of the
state the most nutritious food for the
dairy COW. His talk was one of the
most profitable that has been heard
in this city.
silage Question.
"Silage." sequential subject to
that of corn, was taken up and dis
cussed by A. J. Glover, Associate Ed
itor of Hoard's Dairyman, Fort At
kinson, Wisconsin. This subject was
handled in q mastery manner and
showed that of the factors entering
into production Of milk and cream,
the use Of properly made silase is the
greatest. The matter was discussed
from the stand point Of the creamery
man and producer Of max.
Following Mr.. Glover, paper on
"Silo Construction'' was given by A.
X. Riser senior Dairyman, in charge
Of the United States Dairy Farming
Investigations in the Northwest.
There was more than ordinary in
terest attached to THIS address, IN
view Of the fact that 80 many farmers
of the state and Of the slope country
are contemplating building silos on
their farms during the present year.
Mr.. Risser's complete address was ,ae
follows: 80
siIo Construction.
The principle objection made to
the silo is it's initial cost. This is
particularly true in districts where
the power cannot be hired. The first
cost of the silo itself is not 80 great
as most farmers believe. The ready
made silos on the market are uni
formly high in price but the average
farmer can build a homemade struc-'
ture that is superior to any wood silo
offered by the manufacturerers. and
the cash outlay, In the majority of
cases, need not be as great.
Essentials Of Ideal eiIo.
Homemade silos are built of vari-
GUS materials; stone, brick, hollow
tile, cement block, cement plaster,
concrete and in cases where a tenn
porary structure is satisfactory, they
are built Of wood. Before deciding
on the material to use 1t is wise to
consider the essentials Of the ideal
silo. These points are four. First
Efficiency: The wells should be wa
ter and air-tight SO as to retain the
moisture, smooth enough to permit
even, easy settling Of the silage and
stout enough to stand the bursting
pressure. Second-0urabiIity: The
structure should be storm.proof,
should Withstand the elements of de-
cay. and If possible, should be fire.
proof. It should require a minimum
of attention and expense for repairs
Third-Ease Of Constructions: The
ideal silo requires a minimum of spe-
cial materials and a minimum Of
skilled labor. Fourth-cheapness
Other things being equal, the best
silo is the one that costs the least.
Efficiency and Durability.
All of the materials before named,
except wood, meet the first two re-
quirements-eff1ciency and durability.
Wood is not durable and the tend
ency Of the present time is to build
for permanency and the day of the
stave silo is rapidly passing. On the
third and last 3oints-ease of con-
struction and cheapness, there is a
vide variation. Because of the
skilled labor required, stone and brick
silos are usually too expensive The
cement block and the hollow tile are
similarly expensive as to labor of
laying and, to certain extent. are
special materials, often making the
cost prohibitivs The metal-lath and
plaster silo, although good struc-
:ure, requires both special materials
md skilled labor, and for this rea-
ION is always expensive.
Concrete siIo The Best.
In the last nine years I have had
experience in building
'ilos Of various kinds and have
cached the conclusion that the con-
.rete silo best meets the require
nents Of the ideal silo in the major
ty of cases. Concrete has come into
uch general use that the average
armer had q good working knowl- .
dge of how to mix and place It. The
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