The Ozark spectator., 1917-05-16
CORN FUR S|LAGE
 MEANS MORE MEAT
eorohum and kafir Corn Also Make Good Silage-Garden Work
 For May.
By Dean Martin Nelson, College o1 Agriculture, University of
 Arkansas

Arkansas.
 There Is every indication at tho present time that there will be sN rious shortage of all kinds of feed for livestock. and it will pay the far mers of Arkansas to plan on silase crops.
 Corn tie Staple Crop For the si'o.
 The staple crop for the silo is corn Other crops mentioned later are good and may be used. preferably, "lth corn. No special kind of corn is nee essary to make good silage. Any va risty of corn that will produce good yield of ears as we'll as stalks ia good silage corn. We want grain as we'll as stalks and leaves, and the va riety that produces great growth of stalks and very little corn is . poor variety for silage We want as large . growth of stalks as possible with ears h proportion. Any large grow ing variety of corn standard for Ar kansas is a good silage corn. Sec Ar kansas Station Bulletin No. 1S0 for large BTOWlue VdIsotioS'
 Corn for silase may hs planted nttle thicker in the TOW than usual silage corn may De planted at the usual corn planting time, provided the other farm operations permit hli- ing the silo when the osrn s suih- cientiy matureA. It is uSually practt- cal to make a second later planting in order to nll the silo after the first filling has settled or to prevent some of the corn from becoming too ripe before the sflo can be filled for ths year Stage of maturity is important in point of feeding value as well as fin keeping quality. The rper the grain the better, but filling the silo should be done when the corn begins to dent we'll and tho leaves begin to dry
 Sorghum Also Makes oesd oi,ase.
 Sorghum, preferably rtpe. nay be used for . silaso alone. or with corn. It does not actually improve the st- lage, but the sugar in the sorghum serves to add some variety to 1t as . feed One-third or ons-half sorghum may be used with corn by planting 1t in every second or every third TOW in the field. Sorghum alone is frs- quently used for silase with sstisfnS ton The socalled seeded ribbon cane" is large yieldsr and some times produces a greater tonnage than corn under drouthy conditions. Tine larger tonnage, when fed to cattle oc- casionally gives returns per scre equal to returns from corn silage: Ton for ton, corn silage h . slightly better feed. safer also in keeping qualities.
 kaf,r May Be Used Ia Game Way.
 Kafir corn may be used for silags Tn the same way as sweet sorghum. However. sweet sorghum is to b. pre- eerred.
 Cow Peas VIII Add To Value of
 Corn Siiage.
 Cow peas added to corn will improve the feeding value of silsge. They may be used to the extent of onefour;h to one-half Of the total bulk of silase Not more than that proportion is prac- ticable because of the poor keeping quality of the peas. They may be planted with the corn. provided you use . late variety, but better ad tustment can be made by planting the peas separately. say three weeks later than the corn, and when par italy matured. cut and haul 90 as to mix one load of peas with one or two loads of corn as it goes to the silage cutter Soy beans may be grown and used In the same way as COW peas. with practically the same results as q ,feed.
 Care In Filling sllo Win Prevent Loss.
 Care In the filling of the sllo will prevent loss from spelling, The si lase should be we'll packed, especial ly around the outside Water should not be applied unless the corn has become too dry and will not pack well. AS the safest proposition for the man who is making tho hrst trial with silage, he had better use corn and corn only of . good producing variety. When the art of making silage that will keep Is better understood he can safely try other crops or mixtures.