Aug.  20 
538 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER, 
Progress  or  the  R.  N.-Y.  Rye-Wheat 
Hybrids. 
The  illustration,  Fig.  226,  is  a  photo-engraving  of 
typical  heads  of  what  we  have  alluded  to  as  those 
hybrids  between  rye  and  wheat  which  are  distinctly 
neither  wheat  nor  rye ;  in  other  words  they  are  new 
grains.  For  some  years  we  despaired  of  ever  fixing 
them.  Seed  from  bearded,  long,  narrow  heads  as 
shown  at  No.  1,  were  just  as  likely  as  not  to  produce 
beardless,  club  heads  as  shown  at  No.  6,  and  all  the 
intermediates  as  shown  at  Nos.  2,  3,  4  and  ■>,  though 
the  heads  of  the  same  plant  varied  only  in  size,  the 
same  as  fixed  varieties  vary.  Again  the  downy  stem 
was  inconstant.  Seeds  from  plants  with  stems  as 
downy  as  the  chaff  of  velvet-chaff  wheat  would  pro¬ 
duce  culms  without  down,  though  we  have  never 
known  a  smooth  stem  to  produce  one  with  down.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  the  stems  of  the 
rye  for  an  inch  or  so  below  the  head  arc 
always  fuzzy  or  downy  and  that  this 
peculiarity  in  the  rye-wheat  hybrids 
must  come  from  the  male  parent,  rye. 
The  <iuantlly  of  down,  however,  is  vari¬ 
able  Some  of  flic  stems  of  the  hybrids 
are  densely  downy  or  plush-like,  while 
others  are  just  like  the  stiller  fuzziness 
of  rye.  Here  again  the  stems  of  a  plant 
are  all  alike.  It  never  happens  that  ore 
or  several  stems  of  a  plant  are  fuzzy  while 
the  others  are  not. 
The  heads  shown  in  the  illustration  are 
those  of  varieties  which  seem  to  be 
fairly  well  fixed.  The  beard,  or  beard- 
lcssness,  the  downy  stems  and  the  gen¬ 
eral  shape  are  quite  constant.  They  vary  chiefly  in 
the  sine  of  heads,  some  plants  from  the  same  seeds 
yielding  plants  some  of  which  bear  heads  twice  as 
long  as  others.  Selection*  are  now  being  made  to 
secure  the  largest  heads.  The  grain  itself  is  just  as 
distinct  as  the  heads.  The  kernels  are  long,  of  a  dark 
amber  color,  while  there  is  so  little  starch  in  them 
that  they  seem  almost  translucent  like  horn.  It  is 
reasonable  to  assume  that  such  grain  would  make  a 
highly  nitrogenous  flour.  Of  this,  however,  nothing 
is  positively  known. 
The  down  extending  two  inches  or  more  below  the 
heads  is  not  apparent  in  our  illustrations. 
Up  to  this  time  flic  following  pure  cross-bred  wheats 
of  The  R.  N.-Y.  have  been  introduced :  Heal,  Stewart, 
Johnson,  Hailey  and  No.  52.  Of  the  half  wheat,  half 
rye  hybrids  by  parentage,  though  pure 
wheat  to  all  appearances,  the  following 
kinds  have  been  introduced :  Willits, 
Roberts,  Nos.  1  and  4. 
No.  57  is  a  crossbred  wheat  that  has 
this  season  been  placed  in  the  hands  of 
a  seeds  firm  for  propagation  and  introduc¬ 
tion.  It  is  a  bearded  variety,  the  parents 
being  velvet  chaff  (beardless)  and  one  of 
the  offspring  of  several  generations  of 
crossbreeding. 
No  11  which  has  also  been  placed  for 
propagation  and  introduction  is  by 
parentage  three-quarters  rye,  though 
resembling  wheat  in  all  ways  except  the 
stem,  which  is  larger,  and  the  kernel 
which  is  of  a  dark,  dull  color  and  large 
size.  It  is  beardless. 
It  is  proposed,  unless  our  readers  will 
suggest  a  better  name,  to  call  these  hy¬ 
brids  Ryewheats. 
which  the  stock  is  fed.  The  round  silo  of  wood  may 
be  set  upon  a  stone  basement  extending  eight  or  ten 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  as  readily  and 
with  the  same  advantages  as  any  other  type.  Indeed, 
I  would  urge  the  general  practice  of  sinking  the  bot¬ 
tom  of  the  silo  at  least  two,  if  not  three,  feet  below 
the  bottom  of  the  feeding  stable,  wherever  the  ground 
is  dry  enough  to  prevent  water  from  draining  into  it. 
In  Fig.  227  is  shown  one  method  of  laying  and  level¬ 
ing  the  foundation  wall  where  it  is  only  two  or  three 
feet  high.  A  is  a  center  post  with  its  top  level  with 
that  of  the  proposed  wall ;  BB,  boards  nailed  to  stakes, 
their  tops  level  with  that  of  the  center  post;  and  C  is 
a  straight-edge  which  turns  on  a  pin  at  A.  A  simpler 
method  is  to  drive  down  a  stake,  like  a  fork  handle,  at 
the  center,  and  then  bore  through  aboard  a  hole  large 
enough  to  slip  easily  over  the  stake  ;  then,  on  cutting 
Foundation  fok  a  Round  Silo.  Fig.  227. 
this  board  to  the  length  of  the  radius  of  the  silo  wall,  it 
can  be  turned  about  in  determining  the  position  of  the 
outer  edge  of  the  latter.  When  the  wall  is  once  started, 
it  can  be  laid  up  with  the  plumb  or  level  like  any 
other.  In  bringing  it  to  a  level,  a  long  straight-edge 
may  be  used,  reaching  from  the  center  to  the  wall,  or 
it  may  be  laid  upon  the  wall  directly,  stretching  from 
point  to  point  like  the  chord  of  a  circle.  The  top  of  the 
wall  inside  should  be  leveled  so  as  nearly  to  meet  the 
lining  of  the  structure  above,  as  shown  in  Fig.  228. 
Sills  and  Plates. — The  sills  and  plates  are  most 
simply  made  by  cutting  two-inch  lumber,  of  the  same 
width  as  the  studding,  into  sections  from  two  to  four 
feet  long,  according  to  the  diameter  of  the  silo,  sawing 
on  the  bevel  determined  by  the  direction  of  the  radius 
of  the  circle  ;  those  for  the  sills  are  bedded  in  mortar 
Building  the  Round  Silo. 
Form  of  the  Silo. — The  ideal  shape  of 
a  silo  is  that  of  a  cylinder, 
Fig.  228. 
and  wher¬ 
ever  this  form  is  practicable  it  should  be 
adopted.  It  gives  less  wall  exposure  to 
the  ensilage  than  any  other  type,  and 
entirely  does  away  with  coiners.  It  com- 
b'nes  the  elements  of  greatest  strength 
with  the  least  amount  of  building 
material,  and  can  be  built  at  less  cost 
than  any  other  good  silo.  Where  the  circular  silo  is 
not  practicable,  the  forms  more  nearly  square  are  to 
be  preferred  to  long,  narrow  ones,  because  they  entail 
less  side  exposure. 
Round  silos  may  be  built  of  wood,  stone,  brick  or 
metal.  They  require  less  material  than  rectangular 
silos,  and  will  usually  be  found  cheaper  for  a  given 
storage  capacity.  Round  silos  of  any  of  the  materials 
named  may  be  readily  constructed  a#  small  as  12  feet 
inside  diameter. 
The  Foundation. — The  foundation  of  the  round 
silo,  as  of  any  other,  should  consist  of  masonry,  and, 
if  the  wall  does  not  extend  more  than  18  inches  above 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  its  thickness  need  not  ex¬ 
ceed  18  inches.  Where  the  silo  is  an  attachment  to  a 
basement  barn,  and  where  it  is  practicable  to  do  so, 
the  bottom  should  extend  to  th  2  level  of  the  floor  upon 
Showing  the  construction  of  all-wood  round  silo.  Sills  2x4’s  cut  in  sections  on  a  radius  of 
the  silo-circle,  bedded  in  mortar  and  toe-nailed  together.  I’lates  the  same,  spiked  to  tops  of 
studding.  Studding  2x4’s  one  foot  apart.  Short  lengths  may  be  used,  lapped,  to  get  the  depth; 
lR's  and  14’s  will  give  a  silo  30  feet  deep.  Lining  made  from  fencing  ripped  in  two.  Outside 
sheeting  the  same.  Siding  for  silos  under  30  feet  outside  diameter,  common  siding  rabbeted ; 
for  silos  more  than  28  feet  outside  diameter,  common  drop-siding  or  ship-lap  may  be  used. 
A  shows  ventilators  between  studding.  Auger  holes  are  bored  at  bottom  between  studding, 
and  the  boards  lack  two  inches  of  reaching  plate  at  top,  inside.  Both  sets  of  openings  are 
covered  with  wire  cloth  to  keep  out  vermin.  There  should  be  a  line  of  feeding  doors  from  top 
to  bottom,  each  two  to  three  feet  by  five  feet,  and  about  two  to  live  feet  apart. 
opposite  one  by  springing  half-inch  boards  around  and 
tacking  them  to  the  studding. 
The  Lining  and  Siding. — The  lining  should  be  of 
half-inch  lumber,  and  may  be  obtained  by  splitting 
fencing  in  two,  or  by  a  special  order  at  the  mills.  Two 
thicknesses  with  a  layer  of  good  tar-paper  between 
are  required,  and  the  two  layers  of  boards  should  break 
joints.  Experience  may  show  it  best  to  use  three  lay¬ 
ers  of  half-inch  lumber  with  two  layers  of  tar-paper 
between,  to  secure  perfect  ensilage  next  the  wall;  but 
the  additional  layer  may  be  added  at  any  time. 
The  siding  may  consist  of  two  layers  with  paper  be¬ 
tween  where  the  temperature  of  winter  demands  them. 
When  the  circle  is  less  than  30  feet,  half-inch  lumber 
should  be  used,  and  the  siding  must  be  rabbeted  to  lie 
as  ship-lap  does.  Common  house-siding,  rabbeted, 
answers  every  purpose,  and  is  made  to  order  by  some 
mills.  Where  the  circle  exceeds  30  feet 
in  diameter  drop-siding  may  be  used,  that 
of  the  ship-lap  type  being  most  easily 
put  on. 
The  nailing  inside  and  out  should  be 
thorough  and  in  every  stud,  because  the 
boards  act  as  hoops  and  the  lengthwise 
strain  comes  upon  the  nails;  for  this  rea¬ 
son  also  the  boards  should  be  made  to 
break  joints  on  the  studding.  For  the 
inside  lining,  it  is  better  to  use  ten-penny 
nails  for  the  last  thickness  so  as  to  draw 
the  layers  tightly  together,  and  in  nailing 
the  lining  be  careful  n^t  to  miss  the  stud¬ 
ding,  as  every  nail-hole  thus  formed  will 
admit  a  large  amount  of  air.  This  applies 
to  all  silos  of  whatever  form. 
In  putting  on  the  siding  and  the  lining  also,  after 
the  first  course  of  boards  is  in  place,  the  next  should 
be  started  one  stud  back  of  where  the  first  was  begun, 
so  that  the  ends  of  two  corners  shall  not  meet  on  the 
same  stud.  This  should  be  rigidly  observed,  to  secure 
the  greatest  strength  and  to  keep  the  circle  true  at  all 
times.  When  these  precautions  are  observed,  it  is  un¬ 
necessary  to  stay  the  tops  of  the  studding  before  be¬ 
ginning  to  put  on  the  siding,  which  should  go  on  before 
the  lining. 
Ventilation. — The  method  of  ventilating  between 
the  studding  is  shown  in  Fig.  228.  Three  %-inch 
augur  holes  or  a  single  2-inch  one  may  be  made  through 
the  bottom-board  between  each  pair  of  studs,  and  cov¬ 
ered  on  the  inside  with  wire  netting  to  keep  out  ver¬ 
min.  At  the  top,  inside,  the  lining  lacks  1 X  to  2  inches 
of  reaching  the  plate,  and  the  interspace 
provides  means  for  a  current  of  dry  air 
entering  below  from  the  outside  to  escape 
through  the  ventilator  in  the  roof.  The 
openings  at  the  bottom  outside  may  be 
provided  with  sliding  lids  held  in  place 
by  a  single  screw,  if  experience  proves 
that  they  need  to  be  closed  during  very 
severe  weather.  In  the  rectangular  silo 
the  ventilation  may  be  secured  in  the 
same  way  or  by  blocking  the  lower  board 
out  half  an  inch  from  the  sill  at  the  lower 
edge,  or  this  board  may  be  hinged  so  as 
to  open  and  close.  [pkof.]  f.  h.  king. 
A  Discussion  of  Fertilizers. 
Part  I. 
Multiplicity  of  Brands. — Each  farmer 
must  decide  for  himself  whether  or  not 
he  needs  commercial  fertilizers,  but  if  he 
uses  them,  he  needs  to  understand  the 
best  form  in  which  to  buy  and  use  them. 
I  have  found  that  I  cannot  on  my  farm 
grow  corn  and  potatoes  at  a  profit  with¬ 
out  commercial  fertilizers.  By  studying 
and  experimenting,  I  have  learned  some 
things  which  many  users  of  fertilizers  do 
not  seem  to  understand.  I  believe  that 
a  change  in  some  practices  in  the  use 
of  fertilizers  would  result  in  a  saving  of 
many  dollars. 
and  toe-nailed  together,  and  those  for  the  plates  spiked 
down  upon  the  top  of  the  studding. 
The  Studding. — Where  the  silo  does  not  exceed  30 
feet  in  diameter,  2x4  studding  gives  ample  strength, 
and  in  no  case  is  it  necessary  to  use  studding  larger  than 
2x6.  The  use  of  the  studding  is  to  hold  the  lining  and 
siding  in  place  and  to  support  the  roof.  In  the  round 
silo,  the  strain  from  the  ensilage  is  sustained  by  the 
lining  and  siding,  each  course  acting  as  a  hoop.  The 
distance  between  the  studding  in  silos  less  than 
30  feet  in  diameter  should  be  one  foot.  In  those  over 
30  feet,  the  studding  may  be  16  inches  apart.  After 
the  sills  are  placed,  the  studding  should  be  toe-nailed 
to  them  just  as  in  a  balloon  frame,  and  each  stud 
plumbed  and  stayed  with  a  board  nailed  to  a  post  set 
in  the  center  of  the  silo.  After  plumbing  and  staying 
the  studding  in  this  direction,  it  may  be  stayed  in  ap. 
In  looking  up  the  matter  of  manufactured  fertilizers, 
one  is  surprised  to  find  how  many  different  kinds  there 
are  and  yet  the  leading  brands  are  so  much  alike  that 
they  might  almost  be  said  to  be  made  up  from  the 
same  formula.  There  are  said  to  be  about  400  fer¬ 
tilizer  manufactories  in  this  country,  and  most  of  them 
make  more  than  one  brand  of  fertilizers ;  many  make 
several,  so  that  there  are  probably  nearly  1,000  dif¬ 
ferent  brands  of  fertilizers  manufactured.  In  the  re¬ 
port  of  the  Maine  State  College  Agricultural  Experi¬ 
ment  Station  for  1890,  page  16,  is  a  criticism  on  the 
existing  methods  of  selling  fertilizing  material,  which 
is  worth  thinking  about.  It  says:  “ This  multiplicity 
of  brands  of  fertilizers  can  but  be  regarded  as  unfor¬ 
tunate.  They  all  consist  of  the  same  valuable  in¬ 
gredients  of  plant  food,  and  in  a  large  percentage  of 
the  leading  brands  are  found  so  nearly  the  same 
