434 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



three silos in 1901, which he made 26 feet in diameter and 36 feet high, 

 holding each from 500 to 600 tons. In 1902 he built another, 39 feet 

 wide and 52 feet high, of cement. Mr. Jones has found great ad- 

 vantage in feeding silage to cattle. His silage consists of three-quarters 

 corn and one-quarter soy beans' cut in the fullest maturity. Some of the 

 advantages, as outlined by him, are a greater feeding value of corn 

 than when fed dry, making gains cheaper ; getting cattle to feed better ; 

 finishing up cattle better and more evenly on market, and its adaptability 

 to stock cattle. Corn that will make 50 bushels per acre will yield 

 8 tons of silage, which he values at $2.50 a ton. He regards a feed of 

 about 5 pounds of silage and one-third of a pound of hay for each 

 hundred pounds live weight a satisfactory feed. A steer will hardly 

 consume over 50 pounds of silage a day, if either 1,000 or 1,300 pounds 

 weight. Mr. Jones feeds, he assumes, about i pound of grain in his 

 silage to a hundred pounds of live weight, and he also gives about one- 

 half pound of cottonseed meal with the silage per hundred pounds of 

 live weight. Cattle rarely eat over 4 pounds of hay per day when fed 

 silage freely. The daily cost of feed for a silage-fed steer was given at 

 II cents, while one corn-shock-fed will cost 20 cents. No discrimina- 

 tion occurred against silage-fed animals on the market." 



To Horses. — If the horses can be taught to relish silage, it will be 

 very good for them in small quantities, say from 10 to 20 pounds per 

 day. Some have refused to learn, but most of them will soon learn 

 to like the peculiar pungent odor, especially if aided at first by some 

 of nature's "plain sauce." Some feeders mix one part corn silage and 

 two parts cut straw and let this be the regular diet. A horse fed mod- 

 erately of silage will have a more glossy coat, looser skin, and in general, 

 greater evidence of thrift than one fed wholly on dry food. Idle horses 

 may receive more than those at work, and heavy horses more than 

 drivers. 



To Sheep. — To be wintered through in best form, sheep must 

 have some succulent food, and for this purpose a great many mangels, 

 rutabagas, turnips, etc., were formerly raised, but at present corn or 

 soighuni silage is getting to be looked upon with great favor. Fattening 

 stock respond well to the sugar in sorghum and corn silage, especially 

 when there are nubbins of corn throughout the chopped corn stalks. For 

 ewes in Iamb, silage is most excellent. It allows them to drop their 

 lambs in January or February without trouble and increases the milk 

 flow very materially. The lambs are strong and healthy and ready to 

 respond to feed and come onto the early market with profit. From 

 3 to 4 pounds a day per head is sufficient. Like other farm animals, 

 they require some dry hay every day. This hay would best be alfalfa, 



