282 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



What is the tax on commercial fertilizers In New York? Does It 

 increase cost to consumer? 



Prof. Jordan. — Tlie tax on commercial fertilizers in the State 

 of New York will probably amount to about $10,000 for tlie year 

 1900. The rate is |20 per brand. As probably not less than 

 1,500,000 tons are sold in the State annually, the tax per ton is 

 about two-thirds of one cent, I know from conversation vvith 

 fertilizer men that thev are utterly indifferent to the amount of 

 this tax. 



SILOES AND ENSILAGE. 



What form of silo do you recommend? 



Mr. Cook. — The round one. We have several square ones, but 

 will build two round ones the coming summer. 



Why do you prefer round to square ones? 



Mr. Cook. — The round silo is more cheaply built, is as fully 

 frost-proof, and there is not much loss of ensilage for the reason 

 that there are no corners in which the ensilage can spoil by mold- 

 ing. 



How will your siloes be constructed, and what will be the material? 



Mr. Cook. — They will be round. The material will be pine. 

 The staves will be six inches wide and three inches thick. They 

 will be planed on both sides, brought to a uniform thickness, 

 grooved and tongued on a bevel to fit the circle of the silo, put 

 together with white lead and oil and hooped with five-eighth 

 inch round iron. Such a form of silo is preferable to the square 

 one, because, as I said, there are no corners in it where the en- 

 silage can spoil, nor is the lateral pressure so great; but, if you are 

 going to build a round silo, do not put a square roof on it. Have 

 the roof round. It will not cost any more than does a square 

 one, while its appearance will be much better. 



Why not use the Page wire fence for hoops for a silo? 



Mr. Cook. — I don't know. It is said that the fence makes good 

 hoops, and some of our silo men are recommending it, but I am 

 in doubt about it, so I shall use the round iron hoops. 



