60 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



SILOS AND SILAGE. 



By C. F. Smith of Morristown, at a Meeting of the Board of Ag- 

 riculture, held in Shady Rill, Middlesex, March 2nd. 



Some 18 or 19 years ago we read of the wonderful results that 

 could be obtained by the use of ensilage. As dairying was our 

 principal business, and as we were in circumstances that made it 

 necessary for us to adopt all improved methods, after going a 

 hundred miles to see a silo, we decided to build one. At that 

 time wood silos were unheard of, but, as we had no means to 

 build one of stone and cement, we built it in a part of the bay, 

 putting on lath and covering with cement. We planted ensilage 

 corn, a large southern variety. Some of it tasseled out. As it 

 was very rainy the week we cut it, I think the silage (judging by 

 the odor) must have contained about no per cent water. With 

 our own experience, and the experience of others, obtained by 

 reading good agricultural papers, we improved, year by year, 

 upon the quality of our silage. We have tried rapid filling, slow 

 filling, green corn, mature corn, frosted corn, partially dried corn 

 and all varieties of corn. For our section, northern Vermont, we 

 decided years ago that we could produce more pounds of milk 

 from an acre of Sanford corn, a white flint, than from any other 

 variety. The kind of corn should depend upon the location. 

 Raise the largest variety that is reasonably sure to glaze before 

 frost. The sweeter varieties are not as good for silage as they 

 contain too much sugar. In this State most farmers build their 

 silos in a part of their bays. If built in this way it will be neces- 

 sary to put in strong girts as there is great lateral pressure, if the 

 silo is deep. Take some pieces of plank, ten or twelve inches 

 wide and about three feet long, saw out a circle, seven or eight 

 inches deep at the middle. Place these in the corners and spike 

 to the girts. It will make them stronger and the double board- 

 ing and tarred paper, which should be used between, can go 

 around this circle, thus avoiding square corners. It is difficult to 

 pack corn in square corners so there will be no poor silage. 



While matched spruce has usually been used for the inside 

 boarding, in this State, we believe good unmatched hemlock is 

 better, because more durable. Where it is not too expensive, 

 Georgia pine is doubtless the best to use, and in less frost y States 

 one thickness of boarding would be sufficient. In warmer States 

 the stave silo is undoubtedly the cheapest and best. 



