174 
'THIS RURAL* NEW-YORKER 
February 10, 
COST OF SILO FILLING. 
There is, in my judgment, at least one 
prevailing misconception of the cost of pro¬ 
duction of silage, and that relates to the 
cutting and drawing of the corn, and the 
lilling of the silo. I have read perhaps a 
dozen or more estimates, of which several 
were written by professional writers on 
such subjects, all placing the expense of the 
process much lower than my own experience 
would warrant. Labor being the principal 
factor in the expense of silo-filling, 1 have 
• noticed what is said to obtain in other 
places; for day labor, 15 cents per hour, 
and a man with team, 40 cents per hour, 
or even less. Silage cutter _ and power 
complete with attendants, $1.50 per hour, 
and corn-binder often as low as $1 per acre. 
Discussing these prices a little more at 
length, 1 doubt if in this State one can 
employ day labor at 15 cents per hour, es¬ 
pecially at the height of the busy season. 
True, farmers have their ordinary farm 
help, but this is totally, inadequate to meet 
the needs of the occasion. Even though it 
were sufficient, 15 cents an hour would 
hardly pay a wholly unskilled helper, when 
all ttie perquisites of steady employment are 
considered in addition to his wage. 
Silo-filling is an expensive and a stren¬ 
uous time. It demands the harmony of 
skilled labor. No one could doubt this fact 
if a mischance had forced upon him a corps 
of helpers who were bunglers or inexperi¬ 
enced. To have a few that can be trusted 
inside a silo, who are willing and can lift 
bundles of corn through a 10 -hour day, who 
can load and unload corn without confusion, 
or who know why silage should be cut butts 
first, is to possess skilled labor, no matter 
what other failings the men may have. Such 
labor is worth, at least over a large por¬ 
tion of New York State, $2 a day of 10 
hours. If by any lucky chance a farmer 
can attach one of these to his farm for 
$1.75 per day by guaranteeing steady work, 
he should consider himself favored. Not 
so many years ago one could hire team 
work for 55 cents or 40 cents per hour, but 
that day has passed. Nothing of the kind 
can be had for less than 50 cents. An up- 
to-date corn-binder cannot be purchased for 
much less than $125. One cannot expect 
such a machine to last longer than 10 
years, probably less. When we consider 
the annual deterioration, the interest on 
the investment, and the probable repairs, 
then, too, the fact that the cutting of five 
acres of corn is an admirable day’s work, 
one can readily appreciate that a charge 
of $1 per acre for cutting is out of the 
question. Then there is the silo-filler and 
his outfit—the cutter, three men, one team 
and a traction engine frequently estimated 
at $1.50 per hour, actual running time. 
This will not figure out as a very profitable 
venture if the man has a new and an effi¬ 
cient rig. Of course on the larger farms 
the entire machinery is owned on the place, 
but that does not alter the expense to any 
extent. It adds to the convenience, simply, 
and allows the farmer in a measure to fill 
at will, using his own farm help. This, 
however, is a seeming rather than an ac¬ 
tual economy, so far as it alfccts the aver¬ 
age person. 
In most localities, where farms vary in 
size from 25 to 150 acres, and where they 
aim to harvest silage for from eight to 40 
cows, tlie professional silo-filler makes a 
yearly circuit, accompanied by neighborly 
assistance, which more than compensates 
for the use of farm-owned machinery. I 
am aware that the price of labor varies in 
different localities, but 1 was not aware 
that one could employ labor at the first 
mentioned prices under ordinary conditions. 
While farm help may be obtained for $1.50 
per day of 10 hours, yet. even on large 
fprms, it is questionable if there would be 
enough regularly employed to carry on the 
process at the above price. To call in out¬ 
side help for such short periods would cost 
$2; so it is safe to place the actual aver¬ 
age at $1.75. No one can have a stronger 
desire to give due credit to the cheapness 
of an excellent feed than myself, but I fear 
that in this as in many of the discussions 
on agricultural topics, enthusiasm often 
carries the writers farther than the facts 
warrant, in an otherwise laudably attempt 
to place some favorite product in an un¬ 
assailable position. My personal experi¬ 
ence* during the past season, covering the 
cutting and ensiling of 11 acres of corn, 
has been as follows: 
By agreement, the work of cutting the 
silage was to be charged for at the rate 
of $2 per hour, actual running time. Day 
labor and team work, for convenience, were 
calculated at 20 cents and 50 cents respec¬ 
tively, from which a deduction of 12% per 
cent was made, that being the price paid 
per hour (17% cents) each for my own 
help, consisting of three men. As far the 
greater part of the labor was exchange 
work, I have made the price the same as 
paid by myself for steady work. The team 
work is reckoned in the same way, al¬ 
though that for which I paid cash was 50 
I own a half interest in a 
have placed its use at $1 
for the season. The three 
man used in cutting the 
equal amount. The 
from the barn to 
cents per hour, 
new binder and 
an acre, or $11 
horses and one 
corn is estimated at an 
cornfield was 100 rods 
BEEF CATTLE IN BRAZIL. 
Can you give me any information in re¬ 
gard to the company that is being formed 
for raising beef on an extensive scale in 
Brazil? Are they doing business, and if so 
how could one reach them by letter? 
J. T. 
We have merely seen the newspaper re¬ 
ports of this scheme. We doubt if there 
is much to it yet. Argentina is now ex¬ 
porting large quantities of beef and it is 
said that the men who control the Ameri¬ 
can beef trust will also control the Argen¬ 
tina output. The French are said to be 
starting a similar enterprise in Africa, but 
it Is doubtful if any definite work has been 
done. 
Alfalfa Questions. 
I am thinking of putting in some Alfalfa, 
about 15 acres, and would like your advice 
on a few points. Do I need lime? My land 
is clayey and needs loosening up. Will 
lime do this best? Is inoculation a great 
advantage in starting Alfalfa? It will be 
hard for me to get the soil around hcie, 
and I do not want to use it unless it is a 
great help. _ D - D - 
Syracuse, N. Y. 
If we lived at Syracuse we should go to 
some of the farmers who grow Alfalfa and 
ask their advice. Some of these men have 
met with great success and are very will¬ 
ing to tell how. As a rule soil near 
Syracuse does not need lime. _ In a few 
cases we understand lime has paid, but that 
is a naturally limestone section and some 
fine fields have not been limed. \\ e think 
it would pay to use soil from a successful 
field. 
Returns from Big Crops. — I am very 
glad of late to see that you are attacking 
the great cry that farmers must raise more 
to bring down the cost of living. It has 
seemed to me that the most of the college 
professors and political economists arc 
mighty ignorant of practical business, or 
they think the farmers are all fools. Some 
three vears ago I had 00 bushels of pears. 
They brought me a good price and were very 
satisfactory. The next year I had just 
double the amount, and I sent them to the 
same commission house and received about 
the same returns as the year before. The 
cost of picking and packing, the boxes and 
freight cost me just double they did the 
year before, so my net receipts were much 
less for the 120 bushels than for the 00. 
Does Mr. Brown run his road that way? 
Did any one ever know of the supply and 
demand regulating the price of express or 
freight? B- f. 
Westboro, Mass. 
The Milk Pail 
That Keeps Milk Clean'W 
Thispailkeepsoutthedirt, hairS 
r and filth that get in at milk- 
r ingtime. Strong,patterned 
fright, easy to wash. We 
1 prove it. 
STERILAC 
SANITARY MILK PAIL 
i Approved by up-to-date dairy- 
\men. Prico $2.so. Sent direct 
von Ten Done’ Approval if not 
\found at your dealer’s. 
STERILAC COMPANY 
S Merchants Row, 
Boston, Msss, 
the center of the field. It required six teams 
with five men on the ground to supply the 
cutting machine with corn, and they were 
ready and experienced workmen. There 
were three men in the silo. But few de¬ 
lays occurred, and they were occasioned 
by wet corn clogging the blower, and the 
effect of rain on the belting. This, how¬ 
ever. caused some increase in the cost of 
labor, perhaps three hours in all. But 
when final settlement was made with the 
cutter I found that lie had charged me $25 
for IS hours running time. This about off¬ 
set the cost of time lost. Two silos were 
filled, or nearly so. One has a capacity of 
40 tons, the other 100 tons. It was esti¬ 
mated that 125 tons wore siloed. Subse¬ 
quent feeding from one of them proves this 
to he approximately correct; 11% tons of 
corn to the acre. To condense the cost of 
the process, from the cutting of the corn 
to the completed filling of the silos, the fol¬ 
lowing expense is tabulated, viz : 
Silage cutter and power.$25.00 
Farm labor 40.00 
Outside labor . 70.00 
Binding twine . 4.50 
Coal . 4.00 
Board (dinners). 6.30 
Total for 125 tons.$149.80 
A cost of, practically, $1.20 per ton. 
ARTHUR L. MITCHELL. 
“NEVERBREAK" 
TUBULAR STEEL SINGLETREES, 
DOUBLETREES, TRIPLETREES 
AND NECK YOKES 
V—> sr**- 
Will Not Bend 
Cannot Break 
No. 200—TWO HOUSE 
PLOW DOUBLETREE 
They weigh no more and cost no more than 
wood. They stand up to the hardest strain and 
last forever. 
Thousands of farmers have given up the old- 
fashioned, breakable wood whiffletrees for the 
“ NEVERBREAK." Ask your dealer, or write for in¬ 
formation and prices. Address Dept. . 
DIAMOND FORGING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY 
PITTSBURGH, PA. 
—99 %> % Pure— 
American Ingot Iron Roofing 
Guaranteed For 30 Years 
Without Painting 
The Only Guaranteed Metal Roofing ever put on the 
market. Samples free. Write for a free book showing 
remarkable tests. A way out of your roof troubles. 
THE AMERICAN IRON ROOFING CO., Dept. 0, ELYRIA. OHIO 
No More SGre Shoulders on Horses 
tf You Use This Collar 
Save time and money by buying an Adjustable 
Hamelcss Metal Horse Collar; can’t wear 
out and will always keep its shape; easy to 
put on and take off; better and cheaper. 
Will positively prevent and 
cure sore shoulders. Greatest im¬ 
provement in horse collars in last 100 years. Ask 
your dealer for them. Write today for Fret Catalog. 
Johnston-Slocum Co., 813 Slate St., Caro, IHich. 
COOK YOUR FEED and SAVE 
Half the Cost—with the 
PROFIT FARM BOILER 
With Dumping Caldron. Empties 
its kettle in one minute. The simplest 
and best arrangement for cooking 
food for stock. Also make Dairy and 
I.aundry Stoves, Water and 
Steam Jacket Kettles, llog 
Scalders, Caldrons.etc.,U^“Send 
for particulars and ask for circular* J. 
D. It. Sperry & Co., Batavia, Ill. 
Will rednee inflamed, strained, 
swollen Tendons, Ligaments, 
Muscles or Bruises, Cure the 
Tameness and stop pain from a 
Splint, Side Bone or Bono Spavin. 
No blister, no hair gone. Horse can be 
used. $2 a bottle delivered. Describe 
More After your case for special instructions and 
Book 2 E free. 
ABSORBINE, JK., the liniment for mankind. 
Reduces strained, torn ligaments, enlarged glands, 
veins or muscles—heals ulcers—allays pain. Price 
81.00 a bottle at dealers or delivered. 
W.F.YOUNG, P.D.F., 88 Temple St„ Springfield,Mass. 
Standard Veterinary Remod,' 
In Use 21 Years 
Trade Mark 
Registered 
HEAVES CURED 
NE\A/Tnkl’Q DClipnV 18 Doath io Heaves, 
nCYYIUN d nClYlLU! Coughs, Distempers. 
Safe, positive cure that is Guaranteed for 
Hoavos. It gets at the root of the trouble. A 
scientific remedy for indigestion, which is the real 
cause of heaves. Heaves affect the lungs only 
Indirectly. Newton’s Remedy drives out Intes* 
tlnal worms and is an excellent stomach and 
bowel conditioner. Book explains fully, free. $1 
per can, at dealers’, or sent direct, prepaid. 
THE NEWTON REMEDY CO., Toledo, Ohio 
without milk 
I Write lor Free Booklet 
f low t ) Raise Calces Cheaply and Successfully Without Milk" 
Contains full information and complete feeding directions for using 
Blatchford’s Calf Meal—The Perfect Milk Substitute 
Three ->r four calves can be raised on it at the cost of one where milk is fed. 
No mill feed The only calf meal manufactured in an exclusive Calf Meal Factory 
Established at Leicester. England, in J8Q0. 
Blatchford’s Calf Meal Factory, - - Waukegan, Illinois 
Horses — Cattle — Hogs—Poultry 
each must have a separate Conditioner—no one prepara¬ 
tion is fit to give two different kinds of animals. 
• ' \& Fairfield*s Blood Tonics 
M are prepared separately. Each contains those ingredients which stimulate 
■ digestion and increase the peculiar functions of the animal it is made for. 
■ S TUDY THE NEEDS OF YOUR STOC K. Send today for free "Scientific Stock 
^^"Ebok" and free ‘’Scientific Poultry Book"—the two are wortli $1.50, but we 
present them vv th our compliments, if you send your name and address and 
^^^^^mention this paper and your deal . Fairfield’s Bloo ’ 
under guarantee. Ask your dealer about them. 
Dealers:—Write for proposition. Easy sales. 
FAIRFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 
505 South Delaware Ave.. Philadelphia, Pa. 
.Jy'vYY 
/yJJvUv 
-maXu 
L \ I l J l l « ) T I * I 
YYYtYYY j i ’' N ■- 
Yrmrr ‘ 
i i- 
i i 
A re Your Hens 
Showing a Profit? 
• » i i ♦ j •» i i i i r i i i i | t ? *y 
iEprVrrArvYYrWYYTr 
YY\ /S , A YFVYVw y v y V 
r 
Unless every one of your hens is laying from 150 to 175 eggs a year, it’s a sure sign that they are 
not digesting as much of their ration as they should and can, and it’s a surer sign that you’re not 
making any profit out of them. Stop the rule-of-thumb method and try “ the Dr. Hess Idea” of feeding 
poultry, which is based on the sound principle that a poor ration thoroughly digested is far better and more 
profitable than the best ration poorly digested. 
Dr. Hess Poultry Pan-a-ce-a 
is a scientifically prepared poultry tonic that makes hens lay by helping them convert 
more food into eggs by increased digestion. It makes the egg clusters more responsive. 
Dr. Hess Poultry Pan-a-ce-a, on this same digestive principle, makes plump, heavy 
poultry for market and tides young chicks over to healthy maturity. Cures Gapes, 
Cholera, Roup. The cost of this tonic is trifling—a penny’s worth is 
ample for thirty fowls per day. Read this liberal, protective guarantee. 
Our Proposition. You buy Dr. Hess’ Poultry Pan-a-ce-a of your dealer. 
If it fails to make your hens lay more eggs and keep your poultry healthy, 
he is authorized by us to refund your money. lbs. 25c; mail or 
express 40c; 5 lbs. 60c; 12 lbs. $1.25; 25 lb. 
pail $2.50 ; except in Canada and extreme West. If 
your dealer cannot supply you, we will. Send 2c for 
Dr. Hess 48 page Poultry Book, free. 
v 5 «= 
DR. HESS & CLARK, 
Ashland, Ohio. 
DR. HESS STOCK TONIC. Increases ration consumption, decreases ration waste. Puts the nutritious 
food on the animals’ bones and in the udder. Shortens the feeding periods of horses, steers, hogs, sheep. Increases cows’ 
milk flow. Keeps all farm stock sleek and prime. Sold on written guarantee. 100 lbs. $5.00; 25 lb. pail $1.60. Except in 
Canada and extreme West and South. Send 2c. for Dr. Hess Stock Book, free. 
Free Irom the 1st to the 10th of each month —DR. HESS (M.D., D.V.S.) will prescribe for your ailing animals. 
96 page Veterinary book free for the asking. 
INSTANT LOUSE KILLElTKILLS LICE 
