920 Aprirultural Gazeftp of N.S.W. [Nov. 2, 1908. 



Stack Silage. 



(!. M. MoKEOWN, 

 Wagga Experiment Farm. 



The advantages of conserving green fodder in stacks consists in the economy 

 of the process, the cost being nominal only. .\ t'ui'ther advantage is that 

 where the crop is good or the gi'owth of natural herbage is luxuriant, stacks 

 may be constructed in localities so situated as to i-e(juire cai-tage for short 

 distances only. Such sites should, as far as possible, be chosen with a view 

 to economical stacking or pitting and distribution of the silage when being 

 fed out, therefore this advantage will be gained by l)uilding where paddocks 

 converge. A well drained site should be selected, and, if necessary, it should 

 be levelled to (Misure a secure base. The gi-outid should be covered with 

 timber evenly laitl on the surface, or with a good Vjed of straw, to prevent 

 moisture rising from the soil into the fodder. All surface water should be 

 cut oft". If logs are used as a l)e(l, all space should be well filled with earth 

 to prevent access of air into the bottom of the stack. 



So long as the weather is fit for cutting by mowing machine or reaper and 

 binder, it will not matter if the material is wet at the time of stacking, as 

 it will not suffer damage. 



In this point silage-making possesses a great advantage over hay-making, 

 as in the latter case dry warm weather is essential to success. 



It is of the greatest importance that the base of the stack should be of right 



dimensions, so as to ensure the least possible amount of surface exposure anrl 



the exercise of the greatest possible pressure on the lower part of the stack 



by the upper jiortion of the material, therefore a careful estimate of the 



amount of available fodder should be made before commencing to build. It 



is inadvisable to build small stacks, owing to the greater waste consequent on 



the larger surface exposure in proportion to the quantity of material. A 



stack to contain 25 tons should be the least size that should be attenqited, 



and where only this (piantity of fodder is available, it will be found prcferal)le 



to use a pit or a disused room or building if such is available, as in the latter 



■case even a much less quantity may be conserved. The base of a 25-ton 



•stack should be about 10 ])y 10 feet. About 45 cubic feet of good silage will 



make a ton. Stacks to contain from 50 tons upwards will be found preferable 



•owing to lower proportionate waste, and the larger thev can conveniently be 



built the better. A base of 14 feet sijuare will carry 50 to 60 tons, and 



18 feet square will carry 120 tons, and so on in proportion if not built too 



rapidly. It is preferable to allow intervals for settlement, as by thus allo^\ ing 



time the stack may be more compactly built and the lift may be considerably 



reduced. Where a large quantity of material is available, the erection of two 



or more stacks may be proceeded with alternately, and thus no time lu^ed be 



lost. 



