The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1919-04-11
PLAN YOUR SlLO NOW.

with the production OF live stock has
been so thoroughly demonstrated that
1t is not necessary to present many
arguments in its favor at this time.
However, as an illustration of what
may be accomplished by the utiliza-
tion of feeds as siaea we submit the
following story:
A farmer living in the northern part
of the county was facing an almost en-
tire crop failure as a result of the
draught in 1918. Aside from fifteen
acres of corn which was good crop,
he had little with which to keep his
stock through the winter. He estimat-
ed that at the price hay was selling
he would be compelled to spend at
least thousand dollars for hay, be-
sides hauling it froIu sthe river to an
elevation of three Thousand feet, over
about Is miles of rough road. In Or
der that he might save all the corn
crop he built a. l00-ton silo and it was
filled from the Is acres. Because of
having this amount or good silage he
was able to get his stock through the
winter without purchasing more hay.
The cost of the silo5 and filling ma
! chinery was $3.50. II this was all
charged against the first year, the in
vestment would still lnet the owner
three hundred and fifty dollars from
the fifteen acres. If the cost of the $3.50
outfit is charged over a period of ten
years, as is the custom in considering
| the depreciation of farm buildings and
machinery, the net gain in one year is
much higher In any way you care to
figure this mans experience the past
year you will find he was greatly the
winner because of the slo. The fol-
lowing table will help to make this
more easily understood:
On one year cost basis
Value of hay saved J. $50. 81 100000
Silo and machinery, cost. -. $4,000
Net total gain ...... ........ $4,000
Net gain per acre .......... 23.30
On ten year cost basis:-
Value of hay saved 81 100000
Silo and machinery cost ..... $500
Net total gain ........- ....... $4,000
Net gain per acre -. ......... 62.23
This farmer plans to build another
silo in 1919, and will plant sufficient
area of corn to fill both silos.
The above silo was one of the wood
en- hoop type that was built under the
supervision Of the Cn..ety Agents Of
flee during the season of 1918. In CO.
operation with this office twelve sim
liar other silos were built in Okanogan
county last year, and so far as word
has come to this office all are giving
satisfaction. 1t is planned to give
large amount of time to this work
through the coming season, but be-
cause of the increased demand for the
services of the representatives of the
county agents office, it will not be
possible for the work to be given in
so concentrated form as in the past
Because of these and other conditions,
it will be necessary for the prospective
silO builder to arrange his plans so
that the maximum results may be OBJ
tanned from the efforts expended, if
he expects the assistance from the
county agent
/ In working on the slos last year
considerable amount of time on the
part of both the county agent and the
owner was lost because of the fact that
both labor and materials were not
present in sufficient quantities for
the. most efficient handling. This
meant money out of pocket on the part
of the owner. These conditions may
largely be avoided II plans are made
at once for this work during the COM
ing season. In many instances it will
be possible for the owner to do a large
part of the construction work himself,
thus eliminating considerable por-
ton of the cost of construction.
Another matter in connection with
the silo construction and filling that
! is of vital importance is the growing
of the crop with which to fill the silo
when completed. If there is the remot-
est possibility that YOU may build
silo this summer, special plans should
be made to see that some crops are
planted that will make good silage if
there is an opportunity to use it. In
cluded in such crops are the follow
ing: corn, oats, barley, wheat and
mixtures of some of the legumes with
the cereal grains. First in Importance
because Of the tonnage yield as well
as because of the excellent quality of
silage it makes, is corn. However, in
a few parts of the county, corn will
not mature to satisfactory condition
to make silage, and some other crop
must be considered In this respect,
attention is called to the work that
has been done in Montana by the ex-
pertinent station and others with the
use of the Mammoth Russian variety
of sunflowers. Some work has also
been done with this plant in certain
areas of Washington, and in all in
stances on record, the results are very
satisfactory. The yield is often greater
| than that of corn, and the quantity of
silage is claimed to be equal to that
of corn. Sunflowers will grow where
corn will not, because to the greater
| resistance to frosty conditions. Mix
lures of field peas with oats or barley
will give excellent results when used
! for silage, and there will be little
trouble in maturing this mixture to a
desirable condition.
In nearly every instance, the above
| crops will make some of the best of
| feed If it is found later in the season
that the silo is an impossibility They
can be put up as dry feed and larger
tonnage will be secured than from
many other crops that might be in
mind for spring planting.
1t is urged that every possible step
be taken toward the construction and