116 SUMMER SILO. 



and made the mistake of building it too large. During the winter 

 of 1908-9 the silage was not all used. Last fall we put in new 

 silage on top of the old, and during the winter used out of the new 

 silage, leaving the unused remainder in the bottom. We are now 

 feeding that silage, and the man in charge, an experienced dairy- 

 man, tells us that after the waste on top was removed, this two- 

 year-old silage is as good as any he ever used; that the cattle eat 

 it as readily as anything and eat more of it than they did during 

 the winter. 



"This is in entire harmony with every farmer we ever heard 

 of who uses summer silage. If silage will keep two years without 

 any waste except on the exposed portion of the surface, then it 

 will certainly keep one. 



"Some people say: 'We may not have another summer like 

 this.' To this we reply that a period of short pastures during July 

 and August is the rule in all the corn belt states, and lush grass 

 at this season of the year is a rare exception. Remember that 

 seasons come in cycles of unknown duration, and the time of their 

 coming is uncertain; that it always has been so, and it is safe to 

 assume that they always will until the Creator sees fit to change 

 his method of watering the earth. Therefore, well-made silage 

 in a good silo is just as staple as old w r heat in the mill. There 

 will be a waste of several inches on the surface, just as there is 

 waste of several inches on the surface of the hay stack or shock 

 of corn fodder; but a man can afford that waste, if he has the 

 assurance that his cows will not fail in their milk or his cattle lose 

 flesh, even if there should be little or no rain for thirty or sixty 

 days. When you put up a silo for summer use, you are going into 

 a perfectly safe proposition, provided, of course, you build it right, 

 and fill it properly." 



This editorial is in line with further evidence which comes 

 from the Purdue Station. Prof. Skinner writes: 



"Many successful farmers with limited areas of pasture make 

 a practice of filling a small silo for summer use. It has been well 

 established that silage properly stored in a good silo when the 

 corn or other crop is in the most desirable condition, will keep in 

 good condition for several years. Many foresighted men taking 

 advantage of this fact plan to have silage on hand the year round. 

 They are thus prepared for any unusual conditions such as drouth, 

 sant pasture, excessively long winters, and it is altogether prac- 

 tical and profitable. It is desirable to have a silo of relatively 

 small diameter for summer feeding as it is necessary to feed con- 

 siderable amount from off the top of the silage each day in order 

 to keep it from moulding during the hot, damp weather. 



"There are three silos on the university farm and it is our aim 

 to avoid having all these empty at the same time. A limited farm, 

 greatly overstocked, makes it necessary to supplement the pas- 

 tures every year, and while soiling crops are grown in abundance 

 they cannot be relied upon because of the gravelly nature of the 



