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Coiisfntction of a silo. — An account of the iiiethod used in con- 

 structing- the Station silo in 188S and an illustrated description of 

 an outside Avooden silo are given. Wooden silos are recommended. 

 The plan of double boarding with tarred paper between has been 

 wholly successful at the Station and is com[)aratively inexpensive. 

 The importance of a solid and dry foundation and a strong frame- 

 Avork is urged. 



Silage rrops.— Corn, it is thought, must be chiefly depended upon 

 for silage. " For a large yield in tons we would use the Southern or 

 silage varieties. The dents will give a moderate yield in tons, while 

 the sweet-corn varieties will come in last." Planting in drills 3 feet 

 apart, with the kernels about 6 inches apart in th*' row, will give as 

 large yield as if the planting were thicker, the fodder will be of better 

 quality, and with a rich soil considerable grain will be produced. 



FlUliKj the silo. — A very ebeap and conveuient sled can be made, which will 

 answer all purposes, if the silo* corn is not too far from the pit or silo. This 

 sled can be made out of a couple of 2 by 10 or 2 by 12 planks, say 12 feet long. 

 Four 2 by 4 cross-pieces, well mortised into the planks, and fastened with 20- 

 peuny nails, will finish the sled, except the trimming of the runners so that 

 they will have a well-formed curve on the front end. Loose boards thrown 

 upon this kind of a sled will enable one to haul very easily a ton of fodder at 

 a load; and by ])lacing the butts of the fodder corn all one way and putting a 

 o by 3 scantling under the toi)s, the load can be unloaded when it arrives at 

 the cutter by two hands taking each an end of the scantling and raising that 

 side of the load until the fodder-corn is turned completely over. 



In hauling fodder corn long distances, if a low-wheeled Avagon is 

 not at hand, the " temporary rig "' described in Bulletin Xo. 19 of the 

 Wisconsin Station and again in this article will be found useful. 

 The silage should be cut before storing. 



Feeding silage. — Though put in for dairy stock the silage was suc- 

 cessfully fed to horses, calves, and hogs. The horses were given one 

 feed of 20 pounds per day, instead of hay, during February and 

 March. With this ration their appetite was sharpened and the 

 spring coat of hair was glossy. " The skin was loose and the general 

 appearance was that of horses rumiing upon pasture."" 



To note the effects of feeding silage exclusively, tAvelve heifers were 

 each fed from 40 to oO pounds of silage per day in evening and morn- 

 ing feeds during eight Aveeks. The silage consumed cost only about 

 one-half as much as hay Avould for the same period. " The heifers 

 Avere not Aveighed during this experiment, but their appearance at 

 its conclusion Avas such as to convince practical feeders that they 

 had done better than they could have done Avith hay alone." 



Comparison of varieties of silage eorn. — In 1S8S the folloAving 

 varieties Avere tested: Blount's Prolific, Sheep Tooth, Horse Tooth, 

 Leaming, Clarage, Common SAveet, Southern AYhite Ensilage. Al- 

 though the soil Avas rich the largest yield Avas 19| tons per acre, 

 Avhich is much less than many *' silage enthusiasts "' claim to be prac- 

 ticallv feasible. 



