88 ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



but it must be cut while the stalks are still green enough 

 and have enough sap in them so the silage will pack down 

 well in the silo. The ideal condition in which to cut corn 

 for the silo is when the ears are nicely ripe and the stalks 

 and leaves are still green. 



Cutting Silage. — Corn for silage is usually cut in the 

 field with a corn binder, loaded at once on wagons and 

 hauled to the silage cutter. Here it is cut into short lengths, 

 from % to % inch in length, and elevated into the silo. 

 One or two men are kept in the silo while it is being filled, 

 to keep the silage well packed. It is important to pack the 

 silage thoroughly so as to crowd out as much air as possible. 

 Air in silage causes it to spoil. Silage is kept in a silo because 

 the silo keeps the air out. The machinery for cutting silage 

 is quite expensive, so it is advisable, whenever possible, 

 for several farmers to co-operate in buying an outfit. 

 Questions': 



1. Why is silage and especially corn silage important on live 

 stock farms? 



2. By what means may the largest proportion of the corn crop 

 be saved for feed? Why? 



3. How should com be grown for silage, and when cut? 

 Arithmetic: 



1. If it costs $20 per acre to grow and store silage, how much 

 does it cost per ton, if there is a yield of 9 tons per acre? 



2. Compared with bran at $25 per ton, silage is worth $3.75 in 

 feeding value. How much is an acre of silage yielding 9 tons worth? 



3. .If a silage-cutting outfit can cut 75 tons of silage per day, 

 how many days would be required to fill six 100-ton silos? 



THE POTATO CROP 



IMPORTANCE, VARIETIES, SEED 



Importance. — Since potatoes are a side issue on many 

 farms they are often grown without receiving the care 

 necessary to insure a successful crop. A great deal of work 

 is required to grow an acre of potatoes, hence the importance 

 of fitting the soil and caring for the crop, so that a good yield 

 may be expected. A fair crop of potatoes is worth $40 per 

 acre. A fair crop of grain is worth $10.00 per acre. Care 

 in preparing the soil so as to increase the yield 10 per cent 

 means an increase in value of $4.00 in the potato crop and 

 but $1.00 in the grain crop. Thus, when a crop that brings 



