Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-08

industries comes the necessity OF pro-
viding an abundance OF cheap food.
especially i'm the winter season when
pastures are not available or difficult -
establish and maintain. What shall the
farmer use under the circumstances is
naturally a very pertinent question In
years gone by dry feeds were depended
on and they answered the purpose fairly
we'll or course at best they were not
satisfactory substitutes for grass, which
by reason OF its succulent nature is eN-
tremely palatable and a wholesome food
for live stock TO consume. well as
tending by its very nature TO keep the
digestive system in good condition
Feeds OF this character, however, are
frequently dusty and modify. difficult TO
cure, awkward 10 handle, and require
extensive barns in which TO properly
house them This method of practice
was followed. however. until the silO
was invented by which il is now possible
TO take green feeds and store them and
keep them in a wholesome condition for
year or more
The theory Of the silo is simple
enough. The idea is to build an air
tight structure OF desired dimensions,
and then by packing the food in when it
is in a green condition exclude the air
and thus prevent fermentation. The silo
is not "A costly or difficult structure to
build. and yet in proportion TO its size,
It's tremendous storage capacity affords
the most economical and desirable means
of preserving roughRge which has ever
been devised Silage may be said to lie
tn one effective and universal substitute
for grass II is a dependable food ami
can be kept satisfactorily in any eli
mate for a nalmOst indefinite period of
time. provided il is put up in a properly
built structure and cut at the right time
The importance Of the silo can not
be emphasized too strongly. If every
farmer who keeps live stock, and eespec-
tally cows. realized its Importance the
dairy industry OF the south would n
dergO the greatest boom il has ever
known. end would soon rank as one Of
our most important money making in
dusIries. The trouble is with many
farmers they believe the average sciea-
list is not practical. and therefore. they
doubt the ACCESSIBILITY Of following such
advice as he may offer. In this instance
the writer desires 10 assure them that
the statements contained in this article
are base on years Of practical experience
during the which time a large herd Of
sows have been fed successfully and
economically on silage In support Of
this statement notice what Mr.. A. A.
Denham, JT-, Of EatOntOn, Ga, has writ
ten about the value OF silage TO him. He
states under date OF February 8, 1915,
My cows are giving more milk now
than ever before. ! sold $4,000 worth
OF butter more for the month of January
with six cows less in the herd than
sold one year the same month. 1 am
only milking eighteen cows now and am
getting seventeen pounds Of butter a day
besides what milk We use for the house
which amounts 10 about one gallon a
day. Out OF the eighteen cows i have
four shippers that are only giving lit
tie. / consider these very good results
stimate that 1 am saving at least 500
per month at the present price OF feed
by having a silO. My cows are in fine
condition 1 have not had a single sow
sick this winter. / am generally worried
a great deal in the winter with the cows
retaining their after birth. but have nOs
hac a single case up to now out of four
teen cows freshening"
This testimony should convince the
most skeptical and should induce them
to give immediate attention to the
Tlanting OF crops suitable for silage
They should make arrangements to
build a silo during the summer in which
u preserve the crops when they are
e ready to cut. Observe that Mr. Den
ham estimates that ne has saved in
iced alone S10O a month. he has not
Only increased the returns from MS
herd with a smaller number o. aHimals.
Lut ne mas kept them in a healthy an0
vigorous condition because he has fed
them as nearly in accordance with ma
lures dictates as possible In other
words, he has provided them with a
substitute for grass in the winter which
exerts about the same influence on the
digestive system as grass itself The
statements presented by Mr.. Dennam
cite the wonderful possibilities of the
silo on every farm where cows are
kept and show that a structure vari-
ousiy estimated TO cost, according to
size and the materials used. from 500
up 10 $500. Will more than pay for
itself the first year.
In order TO aid the farmers in secur-
ing information about the silO the ex-
tension division of the State College
OF Agriculture is now employing a man
TO give his whole time TO the prepara-
ton OF plans and specifications for
silOs- Experts are also employed to
visit the farmer and suggest the best
type Of silo for him to build. He can
also secure information free OF cost on
what crops 10 plant and how to fer
tilize and cultivate the same. Thus.
every encouragement is being extended
the farmer to build structures satisfac-
torily adapted 10 our climatic conditions
and varying in cost according TO the
size Of his pOcketbOOk-
Where one builds a silO costing. say
500. IL must OF necessity be a cheap
structure. II will. however, last for
several years. and will effectively pre-
serve green crops. The farmer, there
fore. who is a doubling Thomas or who
only has limited amount of money
at his command should at least build
a structure OF this character. for il is
certain that IL he follows the dairy or
beef cattle business he will never be
without a silo once he has satisfied him
self Of its merits. The farmer with
more capital at his command. or who
il not so hard to convince Of the ad-
visa bility Of using newer and better
methods. can afford TO make a larger
investment
There are many types OF silos now
in use which are giving good satisfac-
ton The stave silO Of various types
will last for a good while. but, OF course.
the most permanent OF all kinds are
those built OF cement Ii seems safe