SILOS AND ENSILAGE. 



15 



conditions will be secured. After the silo is filled and trodden 

 down as solid as possible, a layer of six inches of dr}- straw is 

 placed over it, when it is covered closely with plank and weighted 

 heavily with stone. All understand that when air is admitted into 

 any moist substance, laying in a mass, that heat is generated, fer- 

 mentation sets in and decay follows. Hence the necessity for the 

 extremest care in this part of the process. The air, remaining in 

 the interstices as the mass settles, escapes, or is forced out through 

 cracks in the plank covering, and the heavy weight exerting a con- 

 tinual pressure reduces the mass almost to a solid. Sheep manure 

 and horse manure, when solidly packed by the continual treading of 

 the animals upon it, will remain for a long time with scarcely any 

 CAadence of change. With the ensilage, if the work be properly 

 done, only a slight change can take place. The aim is to prevent 

 fermentation as far as possible, and thus secure perfect preserva- 

 tion. The process admits of no errors without liability to loss. 



The cost of silos will depend much on locality. Where suitable 

 stone are plenty and within easy reach, the walls can be built of 

 that material without heavy cost ; or, if brick are near at hand or 

 cobble stone plent}-, and the cement can l)e delivered at small cost 

 for cartage, then those materials will not be found expensive. Dr. 

 Bailey's two, of the dimensions before given, built of concrete, cost 

 $500, or about one dollar and a quarter per ton's capacity. In this 

 State, in the countrj- towns, the cost would not exceed one dollar ; 

 and in favorable localities would fall below it. It will be seen, 

 therefore, that the cost for storage-room for ensilaged fodder w^ould 

 be less in the first co^t than it is for the present method of dry 

 stoi-age ; while the pits, if properly constructed, will last indefinitely 

 without repairs. 



Now, then, several important questions present themselves here 

 for consideration : 



1. Can this method of preserving fodder be recommended to the 

 farmers of Maine for their adoption ? 



If we accept the testimony of M. Goffart and Dr. Bailey, without 

 examination, there would be no hesitation on that point. The 

 advantages they claim would, if substantiated by facts, place the 

 matter aliove queston. In fact, the}' have succeeded in exciting a 

 ver}' lively interest in the subject among farmers, and have made 

 some converts here in our own State. There seems to be an ensilage 

 "boom" abroad, and judging from the way it is booming, the con- 



