FARM DEPARTMENT. 259 



JAMES M. TURNER, LANSING, MICHIGAN. 



1. I built two silos during the season of 1888. 



2. Our largest silo was constructed of wood on a stone foundation. Foun- 

 dation was 3 feet high above ground, with 2x10 bond timber laid on top and 

 bolted into mason work Size of building 28x40, divided in the middle. 

 Studding 2x10, 22 feet long, with three courses of bridging. Covered stud- 

 ding with two thicknesses of tarred building paper, and sheeted inside with 

 cheap hemlock flooring, dressed and matched, put on horizontally. Outside 

 was covered with 1x6 ship-lapped hemlock strips, dressed. Painted outside 

 with iron ore paint, and inside was painted with hot pitch and coal tar. My 

 smaller silo was made by simply sealing up with common flooring an old bay 

 in the barn. 



3. Corn was used for the ensilage. 



4. We used large, white Southern corn, as well as smut nose flint corn. 

 Was well satisfied with each. White Southern corn grew larger stalks ; but 

 other variety produced a larger yield of ears, which about balanced their 

 value. 



5. I planted in drills three and a half feet apart, with Challenge two-horse 

 corn planter, manufactured at Grand Haven, Michigan. 



6. Do not remember just how much seed was used, but drill was set to 

 drop a kernel every two or three inches. This provides not only for ensilage, 

 but also for the cut-worms and blackbirds. 



7. Our corn last year was cut very late, after it was dead ripe; the severe 

 drought having hastened its maturity. We also had several heavy frosts before 

 ensilage was secured. 



8. Our yield per acre varied from 20 to 35 tons. 



9. This yield is estimated after weighing perhaps a dozen loads. 



10. Have never tried filling silo with uncut corn, as I should consider it 

 much more expensive to handle in feeding out. 



11. Our largest silo held about 400 tons, and was filled daily from start ; 

 our Smalley cutter cutting about ten tons per hour, while filling was going 

 on. 



12. We had one or two men tramping down the ensilage after first day, 

 using particular care in getting corners and sides well packed ; we found 

 center would take care of itself. 



13. When silo was filled we covered with common inch boards, then laid 

 another course of inch boards crosswise, and loaded heavily by rolling on old 

 sugar barrels filled with sand. 



14. I should approve of considerable weight, in order to properly com- 

 press top of ensilage. Of course, where silo is deep, the weight of the 

 ensilage affords sufficient compression for the bottom ; but I think it is an 

 advantage to use weights to properly compress the top and exclude the 

 atmosphere. 



15. We estimated that our ensilage cost about 75 cents per ton, ready for 

 feeding. 



16. Our silo was opened and feeding began from it about four^weeks after 

 it was filled. 



17. The condition of the ensilage had not, to the eye, changed in appear- 

 ance since putting in, although a strong odor similar to old molasses was 

 quite noticeable. 



