412 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



Experience shows that corn cut earlier than this has too much 

 moisture and fermentation ; contains too much of an acid condition, 

 and is not so well relished by the cows. Alfalfa, oats or peas 

 should be cut before fully maturing, and put up after the mower. 



COST OF STORAGE. 



Have found the average of the past three years to be approxi- 

 mately 62 cents per ton, this based upon a wage scale of $2 per 

 day for labor, $3 for teams, and $5 for engine. Of course, this will 

 vary and be governed by the length of haul, which, in my case, is 

 about one hundred yards. 



As to cost of erection, I can only refer you to bulletin issued 

 by the Agricultural Department at Washington, as well as to the 

 ably edited Dairy report of Mr. R. M. Washburn for last year. 

 To sum up, then, I consider that my experience with silage has 

 been very satisfactory, not only has it taken, and to a large extent 

 reduced, expense for high-price milk producers ; it preserves all the 

 food values of the corn, both stock and cob. This later being given 

 by our experimental station at 40 per cent; these figures being, I 

 think, too small, as I am sure condition of feed in palatable, succu- 

 lent conditions amount to something not previously taken into ac- 

 count. Aside from the convenience, as well as economy, of having 

 the feed stored at hand in shelter, no hauling in bad weather or 

 mud, no unsightly shocks, fields clean and ready to be used as 

 farmer desires. 



It should be a pleasure as well as a duty for us to give the 

 best of care to our dumb friends, and that care cannot be properly 

 given, except one take advantage of the advances made by scien- 

 tific researches and the experience of others. And to secure this 

 knowledge we should apply ourselves diligently to reading of good 

 literature on such subjects; take advantage of gathering of this 

 nature ; to attend and profit by experiences that may be given. My 

 experience with silage tells me that it is as palatable to the dumb 

 friend as our green canned corn is to us. I further advocate the 

 application of scientific methods to the farm; gathering greater 

 harvests from your lands; fertilization and building up of the soil, 

 applying labor saving devices, surrounding the home with modern 

 comforts, eliminating drudgery, and in so doing entwine around 

 the hearts of the loved ones of your fireside that love for the old 

 farm that cannot be overcome by the enticements of our large 

 cities. 



