The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1917-09-08

The time Of the year is approaching
when the silo should be filled The
following general rules may be help
full.
As regards the time of cutting: With
all the smaller grains, allow the grain
to get past the dough period and watch
the leaves. AS long as they remain
green, you can allow the seed to ma
ture, but as soon as the leaves begin
to turn brown one-third OF the way
from the ground it is high time to put
your corn in the silo. Watch for frosts,
and do not allow your crop to be
caught by the early frost. Indian
corn should be left until it begins to
dent, although a number of the lower
leaves may turn brown. In every
case where the r rrains OF the
Indian corn reach the stage of solid
grains, you should add water when
you fill your silo. The most eon-
venient way to add water is to take
a "a or inch hose connect it with your
N'AANt anu TIC Ait emu III the GlSNaIOTt
right by the fan. In this way, the
water VIII be bio sn Gong with the
ensilage, and they will go into the
silo thoroughly mixed 1t very seldom
happens that too much water is used,
but very often it is put in without
water and mold develops.
In case of drowth and danger of the
crops burning up, IT had better be
put In the silo before II becomes too
dry; and with the sweet sorhum var
leties, the grain should be mature, to
avoid developing too much acid In the
ensilage.
Another point that needs to be em-
phasized very strongly. and is usually
the cause of much of the trouble in
keeping enslage. is In the packing
of the ensilage in the silo If you
find some one who is an experienced
cotton tramper he will understand
how to tramp ensilage; and in a To- or
l2-foot silo there should be at least
two men. In 14-foot silo, after It
is half filled. there should be three men
The best investment you can make is
in the proper application of water
and the thorough packing of the en-
slage
Neighborhoods can combine in the
buying of proper machinery for the
cutting and the filling of silos, and
neighbors can help each other with
teams; so that the cash outlay need
be very little for the filling of silos
this fall.
The cutting of the corn is done in
some cases with a Sled and In others,
by row bindes. The kinc of machin-
cry best adapted would be difficult
TO indicate in details Suffice IL to
say that the ensilage should be cut
fine and the blades should be kept
sharp. so that the ensilage is cleanly
cut all the time.
You may begin feeding the ensilage
as soon as it is put into the silo or
IL left to stand and mature. there will
always be certain amount OF waste
on the top.
As regards the kind of silo to use.
there is one qualification that a silo
must have it must be air-tight. That
is all that is necessary In order to
keep silage. Now the most econom-
ical and convenient way to make an
air-tight receptacle brings up the
question of concrete or iron or wood
or underground wherever a sllo can
be built underground, II is the cheap
est and best. Where this Is not prac-
ticable, the second preference would
always be concrete. Hollow title -
good, but eXper We. II wood is used.
II should be car, fully looked into and
II made certain that Il will stand the
dry summers and the spring winds Of
our climate.
No man viii long stay in the feed
ing business in New Mexico who DOES
not have silo
FOR SALE on TRADR