The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-05-19
THE STORY or THE FARM sn.o.
Loss of the Fruit Crop Means tltat
More Farmers VIII turn Their
Attention to the Dairy.
%. II. Detchon, in Capital News

conducted in different parts of the
state by the state extension depart
ment OF the University OF Idaho are
proving to be OF great educational
value. 1t is the intention of the
&xtension department that the farm
ers shall see the different types of
silos, talk to the owners of silos and
form their own opinions as to the
best size and make of silo for their
purposes. The excursions are being
held early in the season so that pros
pective silo builders may have time
to think the subject over in the light
of increased knowledge before the
time arrives to build. Anyone who
accompanied the excursion that was
conducted by County Agriculturlist
Williams last Wednesday could not
help being impressed with the abso-
lutte fairness of the agricultural eX-
perts in their attitude toward diff
ferent types of silos. There was no
attempt to recommend anything, but
everybody was asked to observe AMI
ask questions. A few of the eXper-
fences of silo owners will be instruct
i've to farmers who were not with the
Excursion.
A part of the excursion started from
Eagle and visited the Conway farm
on Eagle Island where the new coll
crete silo has ben used one season.
Mr.Conway expressed himself as well
pleased with his silo, which he built
himself He said that he had fed
both beef and milk cattle from his
silo last winter and the results were
very satisfactory. He called attention
to the experience of one 81 his neigh
bors who had divided his feeder
steers as to quality, feeding the tops
on hay and his seconds on silage and
hay with the result that the seconds
sold better when ready for market
than the first quality hay stuff. Mr..
Conway's silo was empty but it had
been nearly full of whole corn silage.
Leo Marsters has a homemade silo
of 1870 tons capacity that cost him
$3.50 complete. 1t is of the stave
type, 14x37. Observing farmers
commented on the sleek, smooth ap-
pearance of the dairy herd and Mr.
Marsters gave his feeding ration
which he said was responsible for
the condition of his cows. He feeds
16 pounds of silage, pounds of al
falfa hay and pounds of ground
oats per head per day in addition to
blue grass and cloverpasture. The
very heavy mixers get a little more
grain. Mr.. Marsters has taken good
care OF his silo and it is giving salts
factory service after two years oil
use. Cholera has been reported or
the farm of Colonel E. Marsters ant
his silo was not inspected. 1t is also
of wood construction.
Charles Cairns has a concrete silt
12x3O that he built himself and il
well satisfied with. He said that III
built concrete foundation and or
dered a wood silo, but delivery wa
so slow that he cancelled his orde
for slaves and used concrete. He pd
the value of the foundation at SO
1t took three men II days to ouilt
the concrete walls and they used 81
worth of cement, $40 worth OF wire
$3.50 worth of pipe, 81 for ladders
etc. Mr. earns made his own form
at an expense of $40 but he coui
have rented them for $40. The roo
cost S25 and the labor was abou
S75. He hauled the gravel quite
distance with his own teams and oil
not count that item in his expense
The capacity of this silo is rs ton
and he fed silage to both cattle an
sheep Sheep did particularly well Q
silage and hay, the silage having
slightly laxative effect on the shee
and no bad effects being noticed
any time. Sheep were fed silage ono
a day and hay twice day.
w. A. Powell who has an excep
ionally fine herd of grade and pul
bred Guernsey cattle, showed his 8
ton concrete silo, 12x36, with almo
as as much pride as he showed h
Nav Rose and Glenwood Guernsey
Powell said that his material al
hired labor cost him S1S7. He has !
roof on the silo at this price, but Il
wall is six inches thick and perfect
sound. herd of 20 head OF Gait
is fed from the silo during the WI
ter. The silo is empty now, but 1t
the plan to build another sllo 10
crease the capacity
William G.. Messersmfth built b
concrete silo 14X36 with 6-inch wa
at s35O and he furnished the gray
and water on the ground. 1t w
built by contract by Rolley Howry
Meridian. The gravel was haul
about miles ad would have &C
about $50 per yard if included
the&contract.
G. N. Dietz built a 50-ton silo IL
wear. 1Ox311b with 3 inch walls
an expense of $155 outside OF his
bor and teams At this point
question of the best dimensions
silo construction in relation to
size of the herd was brought up.
State Leader Hochbaum said that
a herd of 10 to Is head of cattle
silo 10 feet across is best because
small herd will not eat off large
ough layers from the top each
to prevent the silage from spoili
For a herd of Is to 20 head, Il
Ia foot diameter is about right.
r.. M. Flack has homemade
Of concrete and wood combined
saws that he finds that one gives
good service as the other in keen
the silage. His silo is 16xSS and
S37O. including all material and
bor.AThe first six feet is of eoncr
and the upper 10 feet is of 2X6 il