The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-09-10

~kak8Mk6MMa6aNM@ar with the need Of
a large pasture
and insures a full milk supply during
summer droughts.
Fodder preserved in q concrete silo
is safe from fire and waste and retains
the maximum food value. The cost
of building a silo with a capacity Of
$50 tons need not exceed $500. 1t va
ries according to the supply of labor.
Concrete costs little more than wood
and is SO much better in every way
that it is confidently recommended.
No fodder Is relished SO much by stock
as silage. Its influence is beneficial
to the animal system, is invigorating
and prevents cripples and %impaction.
Succulent silage makes for good health
and heavy milk flow. 1t is equally
good for poultry and hogs.
Corn is the most suitable Of all crops
for silage. 1t should be harvested
when the bottom leaves are drying off
and the grain is doughty and glazing.
Without hurrying the work of filing
the silo, the best method is to ensile
the crop as soon as it Is harvested,
cutting the stalks and cobs into small
bits. The grain is more or less mac
Grated in the cutter.
The fodder thus treated is carried by
means of an elevator or blower. which
should deliver the material as near the
center of the silo as possible. This
may be done by the aid of a bag chute
attached to the mouth of the elevator
or the blower,
The labor of distributing the fodder
is thus m~iuilniZed, ana an eve supply
of the material will be distributed all
over the silo. If the fodder be al.
lowed to fall direct from the mouth
Of the conveyor the heaviest parts
will fall on one side and the lighter
parts on the other, The silage will
not settle evenly. and loss will even
tuate. To assist in close packing it
is absolutely essential to trample the
product all over the silo. Trampling
the sides or around the edges is not
sufficient. for with the shrinking of
the center the outer edges creep to-
ward it and away from the walls.
thus allowing access of air and con-
sequent loss. The center should al
ways be kept a little higher than the
outer edges. The rate of filling should
be six to eight feet per day. Quicker
filling than this may result In gen.
Grating too much heat, in which case
the silage Is liable to decompose.
After the silo has been filed the
fodder should be covered with a light
framework or coarse sheet and weight
ed down. This is done to keep out
air, and after the silo has been opened
for use in the spring or summer it is
best to replace this top covering after
each days supply is taken out. Avoid,
as far as practicable, sinking holes in
the silage. In fact, keep as little Of
the silage exposed to the air as posi-.
BILE.
The daily ration of silage for a dairy
COW is from thirty to forty pounds
when fed with other folders; when
there is some grass available thirty
pounds per day Is ample. Sheep will
eat as much as three pounds a day.
1t Is advisable to give horses small
quantities only Of silage; otherwise
there may be trouble from stomach
arrangements. Limit the amount fed
to a few pounds per day. Pigs and
poultry will eat small quantities.
Silage may be made of all plants that
animals are permitted to eat in the
green state, and such fodder preserved
by this means loses but little of its
Feeding properties in the process. In
one way there is a slight improvement.
That is, the tougher fiber Of sliced
fodder Is softened and made thereby
more digestible and acceptable to ami
mails.
However, there is great risk in put
ing vegetables In a silo If a dairy Is
kept. The milk is apt to be tainted.
Oats. rye, millet and alfalfa work we'll
In connection with corn, but the latter
Is the main staple and may be used
by itself.