258 Feeds and Feeding. 



Experts, as a rule, can detect a silage odor or flavor in milk from 

 silage-fed cows. The fact does not seem of much importance, 

 however, when we know that milk furnished by many of the best 

 dairymen, who are heavy feeders of silage, is readily disposed of 

 to critical customers in cities, who pay high prices for what they 

 regard an excellent article. Butter from dairies where silage is 

 properly fed meets with no objection from consumers. 



In view of the fact that many thousands of silos are now in use 

 by the best dairymen of America, there seems no longer any 

 foundation for objections to the legitimate use of silage as a food 

 for the dairy cow. 



II. Building and Filling the Silo. 



406. Silo construction. Without question the round wooden 

 silo devised by King 1 is the one which will be most commonly con- 

 structed. The following brief description is adapted from King' s 

 directions: A circular foundation of stone or brick is constructed 

 extending about three feet above ground level to secure immunity 

 of the timbers from moisture. The top of the stone wall is neces- 

 sarily thicker than the superstructure, and has a shoulder bev- 

 eled outward, or inward, either form being satisfactory. Cir- 

 cular silos may be of any size from sixteen feet in diameter up- 

 ward. For the superstructure, set 2 x 4 inch studding of not less 

 than twenty-four feet in length on the foundation, standing them 

 twelve inches apart. To the outside of the studding nail half- 

 inch sheathing; then cover with building paper, and finally 

 with half- inch siding. In warm districts the building paper may 

 be omitted. Each board nailed horizontally on a round silo is 

 part of a hoop, and all combine to give a structure of great 

 stability. The inside of the silo can be finished in several ways. 

 If lumber is employed, use three thicknesses of half- inch boards 

 not over six inches wide, with two layers of building paper be- 

 tween, thus making an air-tight inner wall. Ventilation, which 

 is of the highest importance to the preservation of this shell, is 

 provided by openings at bottom and top through the outside 

 siding, the air passing upward in the four-inch space made by 

 the studding. Instead of wood for lining brick may be used, 



i Bui. 59, Wis. Expt. Sta. 



