Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-07-20

stone, concrete, steel and other silOS,
and finds that the material of which
the silO Is made makes little or no ilf-
ference In the quality Of the sllage. II
a good smooth alright wall Is formed
and the material is tramped well, there
should be no spoiled sllage except at
the top. Professor Eckles has had
long experience In feeding sllage to
dairy cows, some of which made
worlds records. He says that while
spoiled silage may not seem to injurc
some farm animals, it is dangerous To
others, and has lost much of its 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 q 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 Stage always indi-
Gates the presence of air, as the
molds which give 1t 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 tramplng
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 Silos Right.
In order to get the facts which the
experiment station is discovering into
practice on the farms of the state the
college has 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 for
fodder. The kernels should be In the
dough stage but denied and the lower
leaves turning brown. Let the corn
mature as much as possible without
becoming so dry nat water must be
added to make the silage pack solidly
and ferment properly. r
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
1t. Pack well with concrete hampers,
keeping the silage higher at the wall
than In the center.
Fill slowly, If possible letting the
silage settle day or so ut time.
This makes 1t 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 ut the top. It 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 ut the top.
If caught by frost, the corn for sil-
age should be cut before 1t dries out.
After that, add water. The corn may
even be shocked to put in at a more
convenient time or to refill the silo,
If enough water is added.
The experiment station has pub
lished bulletins on shock corn for sill.
age, sllo 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 filled. Where
the silage is to stand for some time
before feeding, 1t is customary to run
in three or four loads Of cornstalks
from which the ears have been re-
moved. This material is packed thor
oughly; then n liberal supply of water
is added, which viii help to seal the
silo and only very small amount Of
waste will result. Some farmers use
oat straw as q covering; others soak
the top of the silage, with water and
SOW oats which, when they germinate,
form a dense mass which shuts out
the air and keeps the silage from
spelling.
No definite cost can be given for
sil0 filling, as It depends on manv WI
riable factors, such as the distance
from field to silo; weather conditions
1t being more expensive during wet
weather than clear weather; the eff.
cheney of the machinery and Of tho
men. The cost has been estimated as
low as 40 cents and as high as 81 per
ton. Seventy-fiye cents would probo-
bly, be q fair average