The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1917-05-08
FILL THAT S|LO
AND Be PREPARED
LARGE VARIETY OF SlLAGE
CROPS ADAPTED TO
OKLAHOMA.
SORGHUM SURER THAN CORN
sllage Comes Nearest to Furnishing
Pasture Substitute Of Any Feed.
Yield 10 Large and Cost
Is Small.

Becdubt OF pTeNhlllHB HlBH prices VI
grain there is an increased interest
among stock raising farmers in sllaga
crops. The following article on the
possibilities OF slage crops for Okla
h0mR was prepared by Prof NJ. A.
Besson Of the department Of agronomy
3f Oklahoma Agricultural and Me-
chAnical College at Saltwater:
Livestock farmers IN general recog
nize the necessity OF silage Milk cows
Give more milk at a lower cost where
silpAe comprises large part Of the
ration. Beef cattle respond vel TO a
properly balanced sllage ration and
majority OF the cattle marketed from
the corn belt have been silage fed
Other livestock also eat silage to adj
vantage although the benefits are not
80 great.
'e"After all, the most important cues
ton is, does silage pay? II has paid
In most instances where it has been
trisd and in cases where 1t has not
proven profitable. 1t was probably
through no fault OF the silage The
advantages OF silaee are many II In
sHres crop OF desirable roughage
6nd giges 4 large yield per acre at q
comparatively low cost per ton In
sections affected by dronth II saves
large per cent OF the corn crop that
would otherwise be wasted, In the
form OF stalks and fodder II is eco
nesnical 10 store. az about half Of the
tpsoe is required that Ia required 10
store hay Sllage Is palatable and VIII
Keep the stock In thrifty condition,
In summers where the drouth destroys
the pasture II furnishes a succulent
food during these seasons. larger
number OF cattle can be kept on the
snme, acreage OF land than may be
rspt on forage crops cut for hay
9"The principal crops for sllage IN
Oklahoma. are corn. grain sorehums
knd cane or saccharin sorghdms.
There Is very little difference in the
feeding value OF corn. grnin sorghnms
ana cane sIlage. Therefore. the one
ahhuld be grown which gives the larg.
sits yield per acre In that particular
SECTION. Where corn does well as
rule II is advisable to grow II In pref
trence TO the sorghums for slage
crop.
aOn the rich bottom land In the
eastern half of oklahoma, corn IL the
best crop for sllage. On poor upland
underlaid with hardpan. corn cannot
be depended upon and should not be
planted. II does moi pay to grow corn
ON poor land even for silage Corn
should be limited TO the same areh
for silaee production as for grain pro
ductlon. When growing corn for sill
age, the land should be TILED the same
way as when grown for grain. Some
advocate thick planting when the crop
Ia 20 be used for sllage Where there
"A an abundance OF rainfall. it may be
planted thlckly, but where water Is
thr limiting factor II will seldom pay
TO plant corn any thicker for sllage
production than for grain production.
'e1he feeding value OF silage will de-
pend 10 large extent on the amount
of grain present The best slage Will
be produced from corn when II Is cut
at the time the kernels are well dented
and glazed
s"in the western half OF the state,
kafr and cane are the best siage
crops. since they stand the drouth
much better than corn Kahr viii no
doubt make the best silage OF any OF
the grain sorghums and Il should be-
handled in the same way for slaee
production m for grain production.
The grain should he practically ma
ture before putting Il In the silo AMI
II the stalks are a little dry, some
water should be added as the silo IL
being filed
Cane gives very high yield OF
green material for sllage and the Qua
Iiy OF silage produced from cane it
satisfactory one valuable character
istic OF cane and grain sorghums for
silage purposes IL that they remain
ercrn even after maturity This keeps
the plant In a good condition to put
IN the silo and gives longer period
for harvesting. Texas Ribbon cane is
one OF the largest late varieties and
IL heavy ylelder. Sumac and
Orange cane have also proved yalu.
able for sllage purposes in this state
Corn and cane or kafr aud cane Of
about equal parts make good sllase.
However. when growing two differeH
crops for silage they should be planted
10 that they will mature for silsge 1T
the same time. since they should be
mixed as the silo is being filled.
THE silage crops are very heavy
and should be planted as near the sllo
Is possible in order TO save distance
IN hauling.
sassilsEe has passed the experimental
stage and can be considered as one
Of the necessities OF modern agrlcul.
tufe where there Is sufficient stock on
ths farm 10 demand IT,"
aFarnners who have no silos should
give serious consideration TO the prob.
fem In the western part of the state
The pit silo has proven satisfactory and
IA nhaaply constructed. Above all.