Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-03-14
HEAR MORE
'''' ABB About SILO
Fowler Man Addresses Otero
Agricultural Club
ADVOCATES RAISING
OF BLOODED STOCK
Farm, Amongst Which the
Silo Is Very important.

INV 20 NSAy hhPoA tous.
The subject for discussion at
the meeting of the Otero Agricul-
tural association last Saturday
afternoon was Livestock on the
Farm and Ensilage as a Feed,' -
and one of the largest gatherings
of farmers that has yet been pre-
sent attested the interest of the
members in that question.
The principal speaker was A.
I'll. Ledmon, who has charge of
the Crewsdale farm near Fowler.
whidh is one of the best in the
valley and on which was built the
first silo in this vicinity. In open
ing the speaker said that livestock
on the farm meant the ultimate
success or failure of every farmer
in this and other parts of the state
and he predicted that the farmer
who was wise enough to stock his
farm with blooded stock of any
variety would survive and prosper,
but that the time had come when
those who ignore this, the one
thing that is most needed, will
surely fail in their efforts for sue
cess for the reason that the con-
tinuous robbing OF the soil has in
most cases brought it to a state
where it must be enriched or no
more crops can be produced.
In speaking of horses as stock
for the farm, Mr.. Ledmon believed
that mares we're the proper thing
for the farmer, and he advised the
larger varieties of pure stock and
stated that mares would not only
do the farm work better, but in
slack times would pay for their
keeping with colts. The speaker
did not believe in what is known
us the "dual" purpose breed of
cattle and advocated either COWS
for diary purposes or for beef. He
predicts for this valley a great
diary future, when the farmers are
awake to the keeping of the best
of dairy stock and have become
convinced of the inestimable value
of the silo. He also recommend
ed the keeping of sheep and claim
ed that even if no profit was real
lied from the sheep when put upon
the market. the fertilizer obtained
would more than pay for the keep
ing and would leave a good profit.
Speaking of the silo Mr.. Led
mon said: "The silo was constru-
cted at cost of perhaps $500. 1t
is thirty feet high, and is set three
feet in the ground, and built of
reinforced concrete. 1t is ten
feet in the clear in diameter. and
holds forty-seven tons. We filed
it last fall with corn, cutting it
whole stalk and all. | consider
the silo great meney saver, and
big benefit in the feeding of
cattle. Our Holsteins are fed ON
silage and we do not expect to
turn them out on pasture this sum-
mer. Theday is not far distant
when ranchers throughout the val
ley will realize the importance of
the silo, as we'll as its saving and
beneficial qualities, and they will
be numerous"
Following the speaker, Repre-
sentative O., w. West had the floor
for sometime to tell the club men,
bers about the good and bad feat
ures in the public utilities, full
crew and headlight bills, in which
they appeared interested,
Senator Crowley was also pre-
sent with some good admonition,
and r. P. Collins enlivened the
proceedings with song and some
original poetry upon President
Dye, Mayor Coffman and others.
1t was nearing six o'clock when
the meeting adjourned with the
understanding that the same topic
would be continued at the next