CORRESPONDENCE OF CAPT. G. MORTON. 55 



am happy to say, the cement floor kept out the water, and I shall this 

 year build it to twelve feet high, and finish by a good lot of cement 

 on the inside walls. The cheap way of building a silo has demon- 

 strated that any farmer can build a stone wall with inside smooth, 

 bank up against it so as to keep the air from sides, put on plenty of 

 weight, at least half a ton to square yard, and he has a silo that wall 

 preserve fodder as well as a more expensive one for the first year or 

 two ; and he will then have a good foundation to build higher as he 

 wishes. Of course, the proper principle to build on is two alongside, 

 the central wall answering for both ; which I intend to do another 

 year. 



My method for raising corn-fodder is to haul thirty tons of manure 

 to acre, and plough it under, four inches deep ; then thirty tons more, 

 and well harrowed in ; and plant as early as we do for corn, in this 

 climate, latter part of May to middle of June, with a planter, in drills 

 about two feet apart, and three kernels to the foot in the drill. I 

 should also say, and very important it is, to use phosphate. I used 

 Bradley 's in the drill, at the rate of three hundred and fifty pounds to 

 acre, to give it a start, and as much more sowed broadcast ; for I have 

 found out that I can raise as much from one acre well manured and 

 cultivated as from three half done. I use no other cultivation after 

 planting than the Thomas smoothing-harrow, and go over the ground 

 once a week, after planting and before coming up, without regard to 

 rows : harrow as if there was nothing planted until the corn is a foot 

 high. The whole cost by this method will not exceed five dollars per 

 acre, ready for cutting up. Average quantity per acre last year, thirty 

 tons. Half of it was not manured : the best part averaged seventy- 

 five tons to the acre, and taught me to make the ground rich. I used 

 with best results Blunt' s Prolific and Southern White, called the 

 " horse-tooth." It will take, as I planted, about five pecks to the acre, 

 put into silo what grew on two acres. The best machine, by all odds, 

 that I used, and I had three of them, is a Baldwin cutter. Mine is No. 

 14, costing sixty dollars, plenty large for a common farm. I cut into 

 one- fourth inch cuts ; and, when cooked in the silo, it comes out soft 

 and delicious. I have anticipated your question about my experience 

 with filling silos. The cost per ton did not exceed fifty cents from 

 the seed until thoroughly packed in silo. The best form to build is 

 undoubtedly deep and short ; but we must be governed by the circum- 

 stances and location. Stone, I think, is best and cheapest when they 

 can be had ; next, brick and cement. About here, where stone is 



