106 



lumber is used for the first boarding, all right, but for 

 second boarding, shiplap or any narrow lumber dressed 

 one side is best. 



In getting the corn ready for the silo, I have not 

 seen any machine that can successfully cut the large 

 ensilage corn. A good corn cutter can cut twenty-five 

 or thirty loads per day, and lay it butts all one way in 

 small gavels, that can be lifted readily by the man 

 that loads. 



We use low truck wagons with flat hayracks floored 

 over. Those who are not accustomed to the silo, think 

 it a big job to fill one, but in no other way can as much 

 feed be secured so cheaply. The present season we 

 filled ours in seven and one-half days, the help we had 

 was three men and a little boy between nine and ten 

 years old, and myself. 



Our silo holds 180 tons, we filled it from eleven 

 acres of ensilage corn; that quantity of ensilage will 

 feed 30 cows between five and six months with very 

 little hay or other fodder, and those cows will look as 

 sleek the latter part of March as cows that are fed on 

 dry feed will in June or July, and will keep up a bet- 

 ter flow of milk than can be obtained in any other 

 way. 



The silo should not be opened to feed from for two 

 months after being filled. 



Cattle will do better by feeding just what they will 

 eat up clean. If any remains in the manger it will 

 sour, and they will not eat as much or do as well. 



Now to sum up the advantages of ensilage: 1st. 

 You can get more than double the quantity of better 

 food per acre. 2nd. You can double your stock and 

 keep them in better condition. 3rd. You can get a 

 larger flow of milk of a better quality at a greatly re- 



