THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 535 



SILOS. 



Twenty-five years ago the silo was almost an unheard of thing in 

 Iowa. The rapid increase in the price of land has brought about a 

 condition which makes the farmer of today study economic problems 

 in connection with his business the same as any other manufacturer. 

 Leakages or wastes must be guarded against if the farmer is to make 

 a profit on his high-priced land. 



The dairy cow is the most economical producer of human food on 

 the farm if fed and cared for in an intelligent manner. The milk 

 of a cow that produces 10,000 pounds yearly contains 8,710 pounds 

 of water, 290 pounds of fat, 485 pounds of sugar, 340 pounds of 

 protein and 7 5 pounds of ash. Therefore, it is evident that the cow 

 must consume large quantities of succulent feed to produce econom- 

 ically. The grass in summer provides her with this succulent feed 

 but if the farmer is without a silo his cows are deprived of succulent 

 feed for winter use. No man keeping six or more cows can afford 

 to be without a silo regardless of the first cost. 



Today the silo is no longer an experiment and practically all the 

 leading dairymen of the country are using them. Some seven or eight 

 thousand new silos have been built in Iowa alone during the past year 

 which is sufficient evidence that they are a success. We are not 

 suffering today in the rural districts for the want of finding new things 

 so much as we are for the simple application of the things we already 

 know. Practically every farmer admits that the silo is a good thing 

 but he puts off till tomorrow what he should do today and the waste 

 of crop continues from year to year. In the corn belt where stalks 

 are allowed to stand in the field, 40 per cent of the crop is wasted. 

 It has been estimated that an acre of corn put up in the silo has a 

 value of $45.00 while the same standing in the field and husked has 

 a value of $27.00. 



Thus it can be seen that the silo nearly doubles the value of the 

 corn crop. 



In feeding silage with alfalfa or clover hay, we have practically 

 a balanced ration all raised on the farm. Experiments have been con- 

 ducted at the Kansas and other stations which show that the grain 

 ration can be cut down one-half the usual amount where alfalfa or 

 clover hay and ensilage are fed. Ensilage always plays a prominent 

 part in the economical ration of most farm animals and may the day 

 be not far distant when the silo will be as common a sight on the 

 Iowa farm as the corn-crib is today. 



CITY MILK INSPECTION. 



While there is yet much room for improvement, we do feel that the 

 cities of Iowa today are receiving better milk than at any previous time. 

 (We quote a recent editorial in the Breeders' Gazette of Chicago) 

 "The city milk consumer wants clean milk and should have it. There 

 is a marked and 'very healthy demand for better milk by the board of 

 health in practically all cities and many of them are considering the 



