Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-05-01
BY D. II. Detchon.

|
The silo excursions that are being
! conducted in different parts of the state
| by the state extension department Of
the University of Idaho are proving to
be of great educational value. 1t is the
intention of the extension department
that the farmers 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 accom-
panied the excursion that was con-
Quoted by County Agrieulturist Will
liams last Wednesday could not help
being impressed with the absolute fair
ness of the agricultural experts in their
attitude toward different types of silos.
There was no attempt to recommend
anything, but everybody was asked to
observe and ask questions. A few OF
the experiences of silo owners will be
instructive to farmers who were not
with the excursion:
A part of the excursion started from
Eagle and visited the Conway farm oil
Eagle island where the new concrete
silo has been used one season. Mr..
Conway expressed himself as well
pleased with his silo, which he built
himself He said thatshe had fed both
beef and milk cattle from his sllo last
winter and the results were very salts
factory. He called attention to the ex-
anRaiax - 1P ~, Il.
had divided his feeder steers as to
quality, feeding the tops on hay and
his csconds 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 siIo
was empty but it had been nearly full
of whole corn silage.
Leo Marsters has a homemade silo of
$50 tons capacity that cost him $3.50
complete. It is of the stave type, 14x37.
Observing farmers commented on the
sleek, smooth appearance of the dairy
herd and r. Marsters gave his feeding
ration which he said was responsible
for the condition of his cows He feeds
16 pounds of silage, pounds of alfalfa
hay and 4 pounCs of ground oats per
head per day in addition to blue grass
and clover pasture. The very heavy
mixers get little more grain. Mr..
Marsters has taken good care of his
siio and 1t is giving satisfactory SER
vice after two years of use. Cholera
has been reported on the farm of
Colonel E. Marsters and his silo was
not inspected. 1t is also of wood con-
struction.
Charles Cairns has a concrete silo
12x30 that he built himself and is well
satisfied with. He said that he built a
concrete foundation and ordered a !
wood silo, but delivery was so slow that
he cancelled his order for slaves and
used concrete. He put the value of
the foundation at $25. It took three
men ~ days to build the concrete walls
and they used ST. worth of cement, $40
worth OF wire, $3.50 worth of pipe, SIS
for ladders, etc. Mr. Cairns made his
could have rented ITEM for $40. The |
roof cost $2b and the labor was about |
SIS. He hauled the gravel quite a |
distance with his own teams and did |
not count that item in his expense. The
capacity of this silo is rs tons and he /
fed silage to both cattle and sheep |
Sheep did particularly well on silage |
and hay the silage having a slightly |
laxative effect on the sheep and no bad
effects being noticed at any time.
Sheep were fed IL ge once a. day and /
hay twice a day.
W. A. Powell, who has an exception
ally fine herd Of high grade and pure
bred Guernsey cattle. showed his 81
ton concrete silo, i2xse. with almost as
much pride as he showed his May Rose