South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-29
HOMEMADE SILO
RECOMMENDED To
CONSERVE FEED
Good and Cheap Means of
Helping Reduce Feed Bills
For Dairy and Other
Cattle.

The silo was never so valuable 10
the farmer as il is now in furnish
ing one of the best means of reduc-
ing feed bills. II can be made on
the farm with little trouble, of either
wood or concrete. says the United
states department of agriculture,
which will furnish plans and sPeciti-
cations without cost. Where there
is no silo. or when another is needed.
the department recommends the
building and filling Of one before
frost comes.
Advantages OF the SilO.
Among the advantages claimed fol
the silo. particularly at this time
when the high price of grain
threatens the very existence of the
dairy industry. is that less grain may
be fed without reducing milk pro-
duction. provided the dairyman feeds
more silage and legume hay. 1t Is
pointed out that the building of silos
at this time is like the building OF
ships or fortihcatiOns; the silo VIII
help 70 win the war because it means
the saving Of grain. Less grain IS
available for the feeding of cattle
since il is needed for human food
and must be conserved for that need.
Yet milk production must be maiH-
tanned. and this can be done by sup
plAmenting a shortened grain ration
with silage.
The silo offers the best way OF
preserving the mature corn crop, 40
per cent Of the food value of which
is i'm the stalks and leaves. 1t also
saves the crop which. for any reason,
must be harvested before IL is ma
ture. When the farmer harvests
only the ears of corn he loses nearly
half the value Of the crop: when he
butts il into the silo the loss is very
small. When drought frost. or In
sects threaten a field Of corn before
il is ripe. the entire crop may be lost
unless the farmer has silo ready
i'm which 10 preserve il.
Value of SucCulcnce.
Just as fruits and green vegetables
are canned 10 supply succulence to
the family during the winter, the silo
supplies succulence TO the COW, and
succulence adds to the milk flow.
The abundant milk flow obtained
from June pasture is, TO a large eX-
tent. due to the juices of the grass;
the silo provides a similar juiciness
during winter. when pasture is not
available. II promotes the health of
dairy cattle by providing the coarse
feed 10 which the digestive system of
,,,,,e+an,a1 Cows lif< q
silage. and no other feed combines
so we'll with dry hay and grain to
produce much milk at little cost.
TyDcS Of SiIos Recommended.
The four types of silos recon-
mended for home construction are
the concrete. the stave, the modified
Wisconsin. and the wooden-hoop
type. all of which preserves silage
equally we'll. The concrete silO has
the advantage in permanence and
stability. but has a higher initial
cost. The stave silo is cheaply, easily
and quickly constructed, and there
are more OF them in the United
states than of any other type. The
modified Wisconsin is made oil
boards nailed laterally on the inside
Of studding placed in the form OF 4
circle. and is said 20 he more sub
stantial than the stave silo. The
wooden-hoop silo requires somewhat
less material than either Of the other
two types of wooden silos, and may
be built of one by four inch tongue
and-groove flooring, with hoops OF
homegrown material. such as OAK
elm ash. or chestnut, from the farm
woodlot.
ANY one who desires 10 build a
silo should call ON the extension de
partment Of his state agriculture
college for any assistance that may
he needed. II the college is unable
10 give the desired help the L. :
department of agriculture Will fur
nish. free Of cost, bills of materials
and specifications for various dimen
sious of any Of the silos.
ea