The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-06-11
, . o . . y . . D . . . . o . ~l

o o 9 o Q " o 9 o q = 9 Q . . .
q 9
D The Importance Of silos, siloing o
o and silage has had tardy reeogni- .
o ton in the West. The fact that q
. it is the cheapest form in which .
Q cattle may be fed in winter is q
q alone enough to make its use more .
. general. The following silage .
. hints will be found useful. q
o o o o . o o o o o o . 90 o o
CILAGE during the last three decsdes
q has come into general use through
out the United States, especially in
those regions where the dairy industry
has reached its greatest development.
Silage is universally recognized as a
good and cheap feed for farm stock,
and particularly so for cattle and
sheep.
Silage is the best and cheapest form
in which a succulent feed can be pro-
vided for winter USE An acre of grain
can be placed in the silo at cost not
exceeding that of shocking, husking,
grinding and shredding. Crops can be
put in the silo during weather that
can not be used in making hay or cur
ing fodder which is an important con-
sideration 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 all consumed, and
in addition very palatable Like other
succulent feeds it has beneficial ef
feet upon the digestive organs and
some stock can be kept on given area
of land when it is the basis Of the ra
tion.
Silage Is Economical.
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 in.
to silage clears the land sooner than if
the corn crop is shocked and husked,
and because of these advantages sill
age, in the general opinion of dairy
farmers has increased milk production
per COW and has increased the profits
per acre.
In all parts Of the United States
where the silo has come into general
use the principal silage crop is corn.
One reason for this is that ordinarily
corn will produce more food material
to the acre than any other crop which
can be grown. 1t is more easily har.
vested and put into the silo than any
Of the nay crops, susch as clover, cow
peas, or alfalfa.
Furthermore, corn makes an excellent
quality of silage. The legumes, such
as clover and alfalfa, are liable to rot
unless 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 to which it may be fed. The
best variety Of corn to plant is that
which will mature and yield the larg-
est 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 locality for
grain will also be the most satisfactory
to grow for silage.
Cultivation and Yield
In some sections it is common prac-
tice to plant the corn little thicker
when raised for silage than for grain.
Weeds should be kept out, or they will
be cut with the corn and may impair
the quality of the silage. The amount