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Show 9 Trench Silos Are I Growing Popular During the past four years the (J number of trench silos in Utah have 4 increased from 2 to well over 1000. I Such a phennminal increase can only 1 indicate universal satisfaction and j; trench silos have satisfactorily stor-ed stor-ed in the slate some 40,000 tons of 0 field corn for livestock feeding dur-' dur-' it ii"g the past winter, according to E. J. Maynard of the U. S. A. C. It is now fast approaching the time to ensile field corn for the coming winter. For highest nutritive value the corn plant should be allowed to jp' mature as much as possible w'thout encountering a killing frost. If pos-ff pos-ff sible, the kernels should be well dent-' dent-' 3 ed and at that time the leaves are M$ usually somewhat dried at the base of the plant, though there is still plenty of moisture in the plant itself. If, however, corn has been planted so late 'n the spring that it will not mature ma-ture before a killing frost it can still be ensiled successfully. Every bit of field com In Utah should be ensiled this fall if its greatest nutritive value, is to be realized. Corn can be ensiled whole or chopped chop-ped up and will niake equally palatable palat-able silage in each crse, but trench silos must always be in well-drained spots and enough water must be added add-ed to allow proper packing of the corn in the silo. All air must be ex-eluded ex-eluded and the silage must be sealed In such manner that no air will get into it, or there will be spoilage. Green alfalfa, dirt or wet straw make effective covers for sealing. Good corn silage contains about 25 per cent dry matter; alfalfa hay contains con-tains about 90 per cent dry matter. Corn silage fed with alfalfa has a nutritive value ranging from one-half to an equal value with alfalfa pound for pound. Utah can well afford to grow and ensile much more silage than is produced in the state today. The proper use of more silage means more efficient production and fattening fatten-ing of livestock. |