GREEN FODDER ALL THE YEAR. 79 



no air can pass into the pit tlirougli this doorway ; the outer 

 covers are then placed temporarily upon the necks of this 

 pit above, and covered over with earth to the level of the 

 ground above. A second, and, if the cutting-force be large 

 enough, a third pit may then be filled, sealed, and covered, 

 like the first. After the first pit has been closed from 

 thirty-six to forty-eight hours, the necks must be uncovered 

 and opened. The contents will be found very warm and 

 thoroughly wilted, and, upon being now trodden down, will 

 occupy less than one-half, and, if clover, not more than one- 

 fourth, of the pit. The pit should then be filled again, trod- 

 den firmly, and covered again temporarily, as before. The 

 second and third pits should then be opened, and filled a 

 second time in the same manner as the first one. Each pit 

 should now be opened, and refilled, as before, at intervals of 

 from thirty-six to forty-eight hours, the contents at each 

 time being trodden down as firmly and evenly as possible ; 

 and this should be continued until settling nearly or quite 

 ceases, and the pits are full. Salt should be sprinkled occa- 

 sionally over the fodder while the pits are being filled, suffi- 

 cient only to make the fodder palatable. 



The pits, being now full, and settling having nearly or 

 quite ceased, must be immediately and thoroughly sealed 

 over the whole top surface of the fodder by a well-compacted 

 layer of clean earth not less than six inches thick. This 

 covering of earth should be afterwards examined, at least 

 twice, at intervals of a week or ten days, and any cracks 

 that appear be closed with fresh earth. A covering of straw 

 or hay not more than two inches thick may be laid over the 

 fodder before the earth-covering is applied ; but this is imma- 

 terial other than as a matter of neatness. In feeding, the fod- 

 der should be cut down, and fed from one end of the pit, in 

 sections of convenient vridth, the earth being first removed 

 from each section. If open pits are used, a layer of hay or 

 straw may be put over the pit, when filled and sealed, to 

 protect the contents from frost in winter, if necessary. I 

 have not found any pressure or weight upon the fodder, 

 other than the earth-covering required. If additional 

 weight is desired, a heavier covering of earth will accomplish 

 this, and make the sealing at the same time more perfect. 



