The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-09-23
Season For Making Silage Almost
Here.

The season for making silage is al
most here, and Fl. B. Bliss, rural en-
gineering specialist Of the Division
Of Extension, University Of Tennes
see, states that it is important to fiji
the siio when the corn is exactly al
the right state Of maturity The
corn is ready for the silo when the
grain is in the dent and glazed. bat
still can be broken with the thumb
nail Under average condition. the
bottom leaves win be turning brown
and the shucks will be turning vel,
low at the ends. he says.
There is more danger of putting
he silage in too dry than too moist
With a stave silo the hoops should
be frightened up so as to exclude the
air and generally loosened little
after the silaee swells the slaves.
The corn should not be cut down
too far ahead as It will dry out Ii
will take at least six teams to keen
the average silo-cutter busy. The
silage should be well tramped in or
der to exclude the air. It should be
kept higher at the walls than in the
center. At least two men in the silo
are necessary when a distributor is
not used The silage should be cut
into pieces one-half to three-fourths
of an inch long to make it pack we'll
and save waste in feeding. This takes
more power. but it is worth it. says
Mr.. Bliss.
Silage should feel wet after it is
put into the silo If corn is very ma
ture when cut and is therefore dry,
add water. In all cases enough watei
should be used to keep down dust in
the silo A small stream may run in.
to the blower from a barrel or tank,
The blower should be run a few mi-
nutes each morning to clear out the
air before anyone enters the silo.
Before filling is started. examine
.he silo for openings in the walls |
where air might enter and spoil the
'llage, and for rough places which |
night prevent proper settling Of the
.orn. Ii the surface of the walls has
'ecome roughened. thin coating 81
ement will make them smooth.
Putnam County
The community pig contest at Hol- /
lday in Putnam county was held
September 10-I1 This club was or
'anized last spring by County Agent
Y. G. Adsmond, Of Cookeville and
n May ~ seven boys purchased
Duroc gifts through the
anks Of the county. These gifts were
0 to IL weeks old and weighed on
verage Of 63 pounds each.
The feeding contest began at once
nd lasted Ill days or until the day
efore the show was to be held. 1t
'as their first attempt at feeding
nd caring for purebred pigs, but the
oys followed the county agents in
5ructions to the best Of their
Everyone was interested to know
hat the final weights would be
hen the pigs We're entered at the
low. Many went above 200 pounds
nd the average weight was 1877
ounds. The average net gain was
a pounds in III days, or IL pounds
lilly.
The cost of putting on this in
ease in weight was 13c a pound
hich is slightly less than marker
ices for pork. 1t should Be remem-
red, however. that all Of these gifts
e purebred and will be used as
'eeding stock.
This work was done in spite of the
Ct that some few cold fogies' IN
e community did all they could to =
scourage it. The club boys are de-
rnained to go ahead attending to
cir animals and show them at the
unity contest in October.