Middletown transcript., 1916-07-15

stone, concrete, steel ana OJner SllOSs
and finds that the material of which
the silo is made makes little or no diff
ference in the quality of the silage. If
a good smooth air-tight wall is formed
and the material is tramped well, there
should be no spoiled silage except at
the top. Professor Eckles has had a
long experience in feeding silage to
dairy cows, some of which made
worlds records. He says that while
spoiled silage may not seem to injure
some farm animals, it is dangerous to
others, and has lost much of it's food
value for all. The loss results almost
entirely from mold, and could have
been prevented, although the only
thing to do now is to study what has
happened in your silo and learn how
to do better next year.
Unless the silo was sealed or feed
ing was begun Immediately after fill
| ing, from six inches to Il foot at the
top is sure to be spoiled. 1t should
be put where it cannot be reached by
any farm animals. Lower down, the
presence of spoiled silage always indi-
Gates the presence of air, as the
molds which give it the appearance OF
rotten manure could not work without
air. The lack of sufficient water in
filling is the commOnest cause of the
presence of air, but sufficient tramping
in an air-tight structure is also neceS'
sary. Red mold, which sometimes
causes alarm, is no more dangerous
than the less conspicuous forms which
often pass unnoticed.
Fill SiIos Right.
In order to get the facts which the
experiment station is discovering into
practice on the farms of the state the
college has a number of extension men
always at work explaining methods.
One of these men gives the following
practical suggestions:
Don't wait too long to fill the silo
Begin as soon as the corn is right fol-
fodder. The kernels should be in the
dough stage but dented and the lower
leaves turning brown. Let the corn
mature as much as possible without
becoming so dry that water must be
added to make the silage pack solidly
and ferment properly.
Cut into pieces half to three-fOurths
of an inch long to make them pack
well and to prevent waste in feeding
This takes more power, but is worth |
it. Pack well with concrete tampers,
keeping the silage higher at the wall |
than in the center.
Fill slowly, if possible letting the |
silage settle a day or so at a time. |
This makes it keep better and in.
creases the amount the silO will hold. |
This amount may be still further in
creased by using woven wire to hold
more silage at the top. 1t will gradu-
ally settle into the silo, but tends to
spoil while doing so. If more silage
is added after such settling, take out
the spoiled layer at the top.
If caught by frost, the corn for sill
age should be cut before it dries out.
After that, add water. The corn may
even be shocked to put in at a more
time or to refill the silO,
If enough water is added.
The experiment station has pub
liShed bulletins on shock corn for sill
age, silO building, and silage for
horses, mules and steers.
Sealing Suggestions.
There is always some loss on the
Top of the Silage unless feeding is be-
gun as soon as the silo is filed. Where
he silage is to stand for some time
before feeding, it is customary to run
n three or four loads of cornstalks
rom which the ears have been re-
moved. This material is packed thor
,ughly; then a liberal supply of water
S added, which will help to seal the
lilo and only q very small amount of
waste will result. Some farmers use
'at straw as a covering; others soak
he top of the Silage with water and
ow oats which, when they germinate,
orm a dense mass which shuts out ]
he air and keeps the silage from
polling.
No definite cost can be given for /
lilo filling, as it depends on many va
liable factors, such as the distance {
rom field to silo; weather conditions, T
being more expensive during wet
7eather than clear weather; the eff
iency of the machinery and of the {
len. The cost has been estimated as
ow as 40 cents and as high as 81 per
On. Seventy-five cents would proba- :
ly be a fair average.