The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-08-18
FACTS CONCERNING SHAGE.


FACTS CONCERNING SILAGE.
II mas become SO in this day and age
that the sight of silo upon ranch
IS ihdicatlve OF the enterprise of the
owner, and step toward prosperitv
Inc progressive and up-to-date farmer
mas discovered that silage for stock is
one OF the best investments that can be
MADE, and each year more farmers ara
installing silos. The time is not far
distant when every farmer who is max
ing the best out of his opportunities
VIII depend largely upon silos for stock
forage, for experience has taught the
agrlculturalist that such feed is the
pest that can be obtained for stock.
such being the case, the following
communication from H. P. Smith.
county agriculturalist and agent, U. S.
department of agriculture, is very
timely, containing as it does much VAL
liable information upon the subject:
Okanogan, Wash. July 81, 1916.
Many farmers in Okanogan county
are becoming interested in the silo.
The following information concerning
the silo and silage will be of interest
to farmers already owning sios or
who are preparing to build.
Where 1t thrives, corn is the best
silage plant. The solid succulent stems
and broad leaves pack closely and form
solid mass which not only keeps
well but is greatly relished by stock.
Dairy cattle and beef stock especially
relish corn silage and clean it up with
little waste. Corn ranks high as a 81
lage crop on account of it's palatability
the high yield of nutrients, and the
fact that it remains in condition for
feeding for longer period than many
other crops used for silage. Corn for
silage should be cut while most of the
leaves are yet green and succulent
Most farmers cut the corn when the
lower leaves are beginning to turn dry
and brown, and the kernels have be-
come fairly we'll hardened and glazed
At this stage the plant contains the
most nutrients and at the same time
being succulent and palatable Silage
corn should be sOwn more thickly than
corn for grain. The best silage is made
from the whole plant, stem, leaves, ears
and all Some farmers remove the ears
before ensiling, but the resulting sill
age is of inferior quality and the prac-
tioo ic not rocOmmopdod
Green cereals are good for silage,
provided that they are cut before the
stems have become woody. Since the
hollow stems of the cereals such as
oats, wheat, rye, ETC., contain air, es-
pecial care should be taken in compact
ing such forage in the silo.
Legumes such as alfalfa, clover
vetch, peas ETC., make better silage
when ensiled with more carbOnaceous
feeds such as green rye, wheat, oats
or corn. Favorable results have been
secured when alfalfa has been ensiled
with green rye or wheat cut when
just past the mile stage. II the crop is
somewhat dry when put into the silo,
it is a good thing to add water to 1t.
Because corn silage produces a much
better feed than clover or alfalfa silage
the latter are only recommended when
corn cannot be grown successfully.
Legume silage is very rich in protein
and heterogeneous materials and for that
reason great care must be taken In
feding some carbonaceious feed such
as cereal hay, corn fodder, low pro-
tein grain mixture, etc, in order to bal
ance the ration.
Experiments in making silage OF
cabbage, rape and turnips and mustard
have failed the products being i'll
smelling and watery and not relished
by stock.
At a low expense silage furnishes a
high quality of feed for any season OF
the year. 1t is handy to fed and saves
labor and trouble, especially in the
winter. As the silage is readily access
sible, compact and close to the barn
or feed lot.
Silage is especially desirable in the
summer. In Okanogan county the sum-
mer drought drys up the pastures and
the cows fall off in milk. Any dairy
man owning a well built silo, and who
handles his silage properly, does not
experience this difficulty. Silage fur
nishes uniform feed throughout the
year. which is especially desirable for
dairy cows which do best when given
enough variety, but still, a fairly uni
form feed. Sudden changes in feeding
are dangerous for dairy COWS and
cause them to go loft feed" and here
again silage is a desirable addition to
the rations.
When crops are properly ensiled.
less of the crop is wasted and practic-
ally the entire crop is utilized. On the
other hand, feeding experiments con-
Quoted by the state experimental sta
ton have shown that 1886 per cent OF
dry corn fodder even Of good quality, IL