O. P. V. SILAGE FOR THE MARITIME PROVINCES 



OATS, PEAS AND VETCHES 



In the Maritime Provinces and other parts of Canada where corn will not as a rule 

 mature sufficiently for silage, the question of a reliable source of winter feed is one of 

 vital importance, particularly to farmers engaged in dairying. A reliable fodder crop 

 is wanted that will be of equal value to corn for feeding purposes, and at the same time 

 make good silage. 



Prof. John M. Trueman, of the Agricultural College, Truro, N.S., appears to have 

 satisfactorily solved the problem, so far at least as that province is concerned. A 

 mixture of oats, peas and vetches will meet the requirements. All these plants, he 

 declares, are vigorous and hardy, and certain to produce a good crop every year. With 

 proper cultural methods their yields are very large. 



In 1914, on 5.7 acres he produced 65 tons of green feed, which is at the rate of 11.4 

 tons per acre. Three acres of this yielded at the rate of 15 tons per acre; the remainder 

 of the land was wet and reduced the average. On good land in proper condition it is 

 an easy matter, he states, to raise 12 tons or more per acre. 



The crop is cut just as the oats are ready to enter the dough stage, and put through 

 the regular silage cutter. In the silo it cures well and comes out in excellent condition 

 for feeding, so that young stock eat it readily and there is no waste. 



O.P.V. silage is a complete food, and, pound for pound, has a higher food value 

 than corn. The great advantage in its favour, as Prof. Trueman points out, is the 

 certainty of its producing a good yield in the great majority of seasons. Being suited 

 to the climate, it will grow when other crops would be an almost certain failure. 

 Furthermore, it can be grown with less labour than either roots or corn. 



Farmers have asked whether this mixture cannot be cured mto hay. The difficulty 

 is that a heavy crop will lodge before it is ripe enough to cut and cure. The necessary 

 week or two of continuous sunshine cannot be depended upon. By putting it into the 

 silo, the farmer is practically independent of the weather. 



The method followed in 1914 was: Clover hay sod was ploughed the fall previous, and 

 the land well harrowed in the spring after a light dressing of barnyard manure had been 

 applied. The seed was sown with a grain drill at the rate of 2% bushels per acre in the 

 proportion oi \ x /i bushels of oats, % bushel of peas and Yi bushel of vetch. 



ROOT HOUSE CONSTRUCTION IN ALBERTA 



S. G. CARLYLE, Supt. Demonstration Farms, Edmonton, Alta. 



There are two kinds of root house used in Alberta, one built above ground and 

 the other below. The one below ground may be more correctly called a root cellar and 

 is made by excavating to a depth of about seven feet, a width of twelve feet and to any 

 length required. 



The best material for the walls of a root cellar is cedar posts standing close together, 

 and set in the ground to a depth of at least six inches. The tops of the posts should be 

 even and a 2 x 6 plate should be laid on them and spiked to each post. The top of the 

 wall should be even with the ground level and the space behind the posts should be 

 filled with earth, which should be carefully tamped down to keep the walls from 

 spreading. 



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