The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-09-26
SUGGESTIONS FOR SAVING the FEED
CROP.
By W. A. BOYS

CkVF.
BY W. A. BOYS
Western Kansas is going to produce
another big feed crop, In most sections
as large as In 1912 and perhaps larger.
We are all familiar with the way feed
was wasted that year, many fields not
even being harvested. Last year this
surplus feed was needed very badly.
Careful Stacking.-In my visits with
the farmers have observed that the
most careful and efficient farmers as
rule permit but little waste on the farm
Where there Is no silo the feed is care
fully stacked and stacks weighted 80
the tops will not be blown off BY wind
storms. know Of farmers who make
q practice Of keeping one years supply
Of feed ahead. A farm was visited re-
Gently where there WAS q stack OF
bound cane that Was grown and stack
ed in 1912. This cane was so carefully
stacked that about two or three inches
under the surface IL was az bright and
green in color az the day it WAS stack
ed. If every farmer would follow this
plan and always have a reserve on
hand, there would be no feed shortage
and it would not be necessary to sacri-
fee stock in the ''lean" years.
Placing IN the Sllo Better than Stack
ing. It is q better plan to place part
Of the feed crops In the silo. If this il
properly done there will be less loss
than By stacking dry aud the feed will
be in 8 more palstable and digestibie
form and will remain in that condition
indefinitely.
Get Busy with the Pit SIlO-It is
time to be getting busy if one is going
to put In silo this SEASON. A number
of pit siIos are now being constructed
in the district. Farmers are using
more care in their work than Was the
case q year ago. A thicker coat OF &C.
ment is now being used and the exeen-
sion above ground ranges from two to
ten feet. Last year bat few made any
extension above ground and some loss
was the result from run-of water get
ting in at the top of the silo and dirt
drifting over the silsge. On account of
some pit silos being poorly constructed,
repairs will have to made before refill
ing. Il pays to do the work veil and
then it will not require any further at
tention.
When to Fill the Silo.-Do not be in
too big hurry to ell thu silo. The
sorghum crops will be used largely for
this purpose in Western Kansas and
they should be in the stiff dough stage
to give the best results for silage pur-
poses.
Filling the Silo.-Some have made
the mistake OF adding too much water,
particularly when the crop il IN an i'm
mature stage Of growth. When the
crop is properly matured It is safer to
add water than when immature, but it
may not be necessary to add any wa
ter. To give good results the silage
should pack well in the silo. Some in
stances have been noted where ksfiF or
corn was placed in the silo whole and
there was usually considerable loss from
air getting in and spelling the siIage a.
round the walls. For best results the
material to be placed IN the siIo should
be cut in half inch lengths. Knives
should be kept sharp for this purpose
and it is well to have two sets and
change once day 50 they may be kept
sharp. st all times.
Everybody Likes the Silo.-I have
visited the most Of the siIos In the
eight counties in my district and have
not yet found q single man who was
dissatisfied with his silo, bat Instead .
good many are planning to build enc or
two more this season. The man who
has tried it fought to know. Build one
more as a reserve. -