48 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



1893 we built a second of 140 tons having in the meanwhile 

 increased our herd of dairy cows. 



The silos are both of wocd above ground rat proof and sub- 

 stantially built, the first is twenty feet deep the second twenty- 

 two feet deep. We cut the corn when a majority of the shucks 

 begin to turn yellow, take direct to ensilage cutter with a thirty- 

 two foot carrier which takes it to an opening at the top of the 

 silo. We pack the silage at the sides and corners of the 

 silo keeping it evenly distributed so it will settle uniformly, 

 it will heat to 180 degrees Fahr, At this point the germ that 

 causes the mold is destroyed the ensilage remains sweet and 

 green, it comes out as good as it went in, the principle is the 

 same as canning fruit or vegetables, a silo is nothing but a large 

 fruit jar, we all know how well this fruit tastes when it is out 

 of season and the good wife brings out some of it for us and the 

 children for farmers always have a good appetite. 



In feeding ensilage the cow does her own shucking and 

 grinding to perfection at the minimum cost of two and one-half 

 cents per day. "Eureka!" Here is the Klondike of Southern 

 Illinois. There is no danger of over feeding and our cows, 

 under high pressure feeding, are healthy as the wild buffalo on 

 his native plain, our cows last longer than when we fed grain 

 and hay, it has enabled us to net $176.00 from one cow in one 

 year after all her feed was paid for, our herd nets us $110.00 

 each, they are smooth and fine as silk and my opinion is that it 

 would make the best feed for finishing steers for market but 

 would advise feeding about two pounds cottonseed per head 

 each day. 



After our cows had gone through that terrible drouth last 

 fall they caught the pink eye from a neighbor's cattle which he 

 bought at the stockyards, we were in a dilemma till we opened 

 our silo, from that day on we increased our milk, the cows have 

 gained at least 100 pounds each in flesh, are shedding their 

 hair, look slick and fat, a delight to all who see them, they are 

 mellow to the touch, the milk has a rich June color and is of 

 good quality. 



We sold it for three years to a condensary the most discrim- 



