The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-08-01
SYSTEM FOR FILLING SIl0
HOW TO CUT AND PACK THE SILL.
AoE-co-oPERATIoN PAYS.
BY c. n. Eekles, Professor of Dairy
Husbandry, College Of AgricuI-
ture, University Of Missouri.

When corn is used for silage the en-
tire plant, including the ear, is cut In.
70 about one-half inch lengths, using
large power cutter for the purpose
large cutter which permits filling
me silo rapidly is most economical
OF labor. 1t is advisable for three or
tohr farmers located close together TO
ouy silage cutter together. BY help
ing each other they are able to Oil the
Siios Tor the group with the minimum
expense.
Inc cutters used to ill a medium
sized silo have a capacity Of from 10
10 10 tons per hour From four to
SIX teams are required to haul the corn
from the field, depending on ,le dis.
lance and other conditions. The corn
may be cut in the field with a corn
binder, II one Is at hand, or NAV be
cut by hand and thrown Into piles.
Inc cost OF filling silo has been
found to vary from fifty cents TO one
loiiar ton, depending on the machin.
cry used, the yield of corn per acre
the distance hauled. and how the
work is organized and handled. With
sood organization and machinery the
cost should not be more than seventy
cents per ton.
Ihe silage settles about eight feet
IN silo thirty feet high and for this
reason, where rapid filing is prac.
uced, the silo will not be full after n
mas settled unless II Is filed a second
ume' II 1t is convenient, allow the
machine to stand two or three DAVIS
Tor the silage TO settle. then refill and
most OF the capacity will be made use
Of.
Where no special form of distributor
Is used in the silo, there is a tendency
Tor the heavier pieces of ears to drop
IN one place while the leaves and
stalks are thrown greater distance
In order to keep the silage of a uni
FORM composition the portion richer in
grain should be distributed over the |
surface Of the silo as the filling pro.
crosses.
II is especially important to make !
sure that the sllage is packed closely
around the walls since this Is where
the air gets in and the spelling takes
place. The wall must be smooth 10
make as little friction as possible in
settling. While the silo Is being filled.
Dne man at least ana preferably two.
should work in the silo, distributing
he silage and packing 1t. The outside
lext to the wall should be kent higher
han the center and constantly
ramped. There is no necessity for
rampng in the middle. as II will take
are Of itself.
When the filling is completed the ton
hould be leveled off and Trained
own rs thoroughly as possible over
he entire surface. The upper layer
honld be thoroughly wet with water
n some way. This can be done by
INNING the water into the blower as ,
he last few tons are run in. or by
utting II into the silo after the filling ,
: completed. The idea is to form an y.
ir tight layer over the top 10 prevent
ne silage from spelling
Some advocate the use of cut straw
thoroughly wet on top OF the sllage.
has also been suggested that after /,
lie silage is thoroughly wet down, :
ats be sown on the top. These will
trout soon and assist In sealing the
10 more quickly. :