The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-15
AG RICUlTU RI
Another Successful Farmers
Meeting Held in Sank Centre
SIL0S ARE EXPLAINED
j. ]. Springer of Extension Division
of State University Gives
interesting Talk
ATTENDANCE Is GOOD
Supt. Ayearn and Instructor Norsen.
Organize Farmers Club in
District No. 81
ATTENDANCE IS GOOD


j. j. Springer of the extension di-
vision of the State University adj
dressed the high school room full OF
farmers last Saturday on the subject
of silos.
The meeting was called for
o'clock, but it was twenty minutes
later before operations began. The
program was opened by the high
school male quartet. which rendered
selection that called for an enthusi-
astic encore.
Supt. NJ. ID. Aygarn then introduced
the speaker. Mr.. Springer is in no
sense an orator but he is brimful OF
information and enthusiasm, which
counts for good deal when man is
addressing an audience. Mr.. Springer,
early in his talk, emphasized the fact
that farming is now done with brains.
He then passed on to the subject of
the dairy COW, laying much stress up
on the value of this animal on the
farm. He said tie cities are growing
50 rapidly that the. demand for dairy
products S rapidly exceeding tho sap.
ply Market gardens, he said, are be-
ing planted largely on land that was
formerly used for grazing and hay
production. Hence the great need
for the farmer to pay more attention
than ever to the raising and caring
for dairy herds If this is not done,
oleomargarine will crowd butter of
the boards, he averred.
Mr. Stringer laid much emphasis on
the Importance of good stable for
the dairy herd. Dry straw, he said,
should always be used for bedding for
the COWS. Straw is of great value to
purify the barn and to absorb the Ii
Quid excrement. Wet, frozen straw
not only makes the COW uncomfort-
able but it is full of harmful bacteria.
Mr.. Springer went into considerable
detail in treating of the silo. He ex-
hibited plans for the structure, ex-
planned how it should be erected and
answered numerous questions pro-
pounded by the numerous interested
farmers present. He discussed the
relative values of wooden and con-
crete silos and showed that some of
the objections offered to one or the
other of these structures were partly,
at least, unfounded. The idea, said
Mr.. Springer. that acid from the silo
causes the concrete silo wall to dis
integrate, is wrong. He ayerred that
the freezing of the moisture was
what did it in cold weather. Acid
that will harm silo, he asserted, will
ruin cows digestive organs.
The speaker held that the mistake
is often made of harvesting the silage
too early. 1t is better to cut it later,
when it is nearer maturity, as then
there will be less moisture.
Mr.. Springer held that a silo forty
feet high is better than one of less
height. He advocated a brick roof
with sufficient slope to give. room I'M
derneath for workman to stow away
the contents. The silo, he claimed,
should be built fora permanent In
vestment.
While not an orator, yet Mr..
Springer has lot Of excellent ideas
and expresses them in an original
way. Here are some Of his express
sions:
1.-THE quickest way to get poor fast
is to try to get rich quick 2
Continued on page 5