The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-06-18
The Making and Fssdiag Of Silage

the United States, especially in those
regions where the industry has reached
its greatest development. Silsge is
universally recognized as a good and
cheap food for farm stock, and psrticu-
larly so Tor cattle and sheep, are the
observations made in Farmers Bulletin
SIS.
Silage is the best and cheapest form
in which a succulent feed can be pro
vided for winter use, continues the
bulletin. An acre Of grain can be
placed in the silo at a cost not exceed
ing that Of shocking, ausking, grind
ing and shedding. Crops can be put
in the silo during weather that can not
be used in making hay or curing fod'
der, which is an import consideration
in some localities.
A given amount OF corn in the form
OF silage will produce more milk than
the same amount when shocked and
dried. There is less waste in feeding
silage than in feeding fodder. Good
silage properly fed is Aall consumed,
and in addition very palatable. Like
other succulent feeds, it has a bene-
fetal effect upon the digestive organs,
and some stock can be kept on a given
area Of land when it is the basis OF the
ration.
On account Of the smaller cost for
labor, silage can be used for supple
menting pastures more economically
than Can soiling crops, unless only a
small amount Of supplementary feed is
required. Converting the corn crop
into silage clears the land sooner than
if the corn crop is shocked and husked,
and because Of these advantages silage,
in the general opinion Of dairy farmers,
has increased milk production per COW
and has increased the profits per acre.
CORN
In all parts OF the United States
where the silo has come into gen eral
use the principal s;iage crop is corn.
One reason for this is that ordinary
corn will produce more food mate;;ajt'
70 the acre thar 49,, -,.'si C'op "'iiN"
-, ,,y yrywn. 1. 10 more easily ha.'
vested and put into the silo than any
OF the hay crops, such as clover, COW
peas or alfalfa.
Furthermore, corn makes an excel
lent quality Of silage. The legumes,
such as clover and alfalfa, are liable to
rot unleas special care is taken to pack
the silage thoroughly and force the air
out. The only objection which has
been raised concerning corn silage is
the fact that it contains insufficient
protein fully to meet the requirements
OF animals 10 which it may be led.
The best variety oI corn to plant is
that which will mature and yield the
largest amount OF grain to the acre,
since the grain is the most valuable
part Of the corn plant. The variety
commonly raised in any particular To-
cality for grain will also be the most
satisfactory to grow for silage.
CULTIVATION OF YIELD
In some sections it is common prac
tice 10 plant the corn a little thicker
when raised for silage than Tor grain.
Weeds should be kept out, or they will
be cut with the corn and may impair
the quality oil the silage. The amount
Of silage that can be obtained from an
acre OF corn will vary from four to
twenty tons or more. A fifty y-bushel'
. per.acre crop OF corn will yield about
| eight to twelve tons Of silage per acre,
depending upon the amount Of foliage
and stock that accompanies the ear
, Southern varieties Of corn as rule
carry larger proportion Of the plant il
! the form Of stalk and leaves than dc
the northern grown varieties. Corr
should be harvested for the silo a
about the same time that it is harvest
ed for fodder.
: SoRGHUMS
Sorghums, both saccharine and non
It saccharine, are readily made into sil
, age. On account Of their superiorit
a to corn as drouth-resisting crops, the
: are more commonly grown in those re
e gions Of the west where the rainfall
L too light or irregular for good growt
d Of corn. 1t is important that the sol
e ghums be harvested at the proper stag
l. Of maturity if the best results are to b
oi secured. A mixture Of corn and so
is ghur has proved satisfactory in som
y localities where the rainiall was so var
" able as to make the corn crop unce
s. tain.
:. ~ nlIrSD