The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-09-21
Vocational Column
THE FARM SIL0

HiNbifSss AN' Vt''i Dbh'h'b ~ W'h
advertises the intent Of the farmer
to be progressive and up-to-date;
and no other building saves him so
much money on the investment. A
good silo will pay as much as 100
per cent on the investment the first
year. The silo saves all Of the corn
crop. 80 per cent Of which would
otherwise be wasted. The silo elm
mates troublesome corn stalks and
elevates feeding, especially in win
ter. from back-breaking drudgery
to a science.
The advantages Of the silo are
almost too great 10 enumerate. In
regions devoted to the dairy indus
try they have become so useful that
many farmers consider them indis-
pensable.
Silage makes a good feed for all
farm stock. and particularly for cat
tie and sheep. Silage is the best and
cheapest form in which feed can be
provided for winter use. II econo-
mizes farm labor. II can be put up
i'm weather that cannot be utilized
in making hay or curing fodder.
Silage is very palatable and good
silage is all consumed. More stock
can be kept on given area of land
when silage is the basis Of the ra-
ton. In converting the corn crop
into silage we clear the land sooner
and leave IL ready for another crop
than IL the crop is shocked and
husked.
The farmer who keeps as many
as ten cows. or the equivalent Of
this number in other stock, should
never think Of not having a silo.
A. alfalfa is king Of forage crops,
so is corn the best Of the silage
crops. In addition Ia corn, alfalfa.
clover hay. sugar beet tops, pea
vines and a dozen Of other crops
have been successfully sliced. But
owing Ia the hollow stems Of most
Of the other crops and the difficulty
Of forcing all the air out, the corn
crop has proven To be- the best crop
for silage.
Corn is universally recognized as
the greatest Of the silage crops.
It's large yield Of grain and fodder
under fair conditions is remarkable.
Corn, on bottom land, will produc.
from six In twenty tons Of silage
per acre. Corn is more easily har-
vested and put into the silo than any
other crop.
In cutting corn for the silo IL is
very important that Il be cut at the
proper time So as To secure all the
food material the corn produces.
Experiments show that corn con-
tains more food when il is near
maturing than at any other time.
Therefore il should not be cut for
silage purposes until near maturity.
After we have convinced our
selves that a silo is a profitable in
vestment, We should consider the
kind of a silo To build. There are
several different kinds on the mar
ket, but the kind to erect depends
on the size OF the farm and the
number Of cattle To be fed. The
stave type is the cheapest in the be-
ginning but not in the end. The
different kinds OF concrete silOs are
numerous. The solid concrete, the
block silo, and the hollow tile silo
are the most durable on the market
Any of the concrete silos will cost
more to erect. but when erected, the
cost is at an end.
II is very important that the silos
be properly located. as silage is a
very heavy feed. Thus the silo
should be located near the feeding
alley. Above all do not have the
silo surrounded by other buildings
and pens, thus making il unhandy
for filling.
In filling the silo no means should
be spared in doing ii properly. In
cutting corn for the silo the entire
plant should be used; do not remove
the ears from the stock but feed the
entire plant into the cutter. II is
very important that the silage be
cut very short, as the shorter il Is
cut the closer II will pack together.
forcing out more of the air and
making a better quality Of silage.
In feeding silage il should always
be removed from the top, as an
opening in the bottom of the silo
will admit air and spoil the supply
Of silage. There is no way 10 pre-
vent a small portion on top from
spelling, and when we start feeding
from the silo this should be removed
and disposed of by putting in the
manure pit or by scattering over
the land where the stock cannot get
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