250 



boards, and -when good sMngles are compared with good Inmber the lumber is 

 cheaper. 



As a result of his observations and experience the author believes 

 that the silo should be not less than 24 feet deep, and either round or 

 as nearly square as practicable, because " these forms give the greatest 

 capacity with the least amount of side exposure." 



In the construction of silos careful attention should be paid to the area of surface 

 exposed in feeding the silage. Silage wastes much more rai>idly when fed from the 

 sides than from the top, and since the most economical construction demands the 

 largest possible feeding surface, it follows that the feeding should be, in general, from 

 the top. 



The proper horizontal area of the feeding pit depends upon the amount of silage 

 fed daily and the rate at which silage becomes seriously injured when exposed. 

 I have not been able to gather facts enough to settle this important point. The 

 spoiling is certainly more rapid in tlie sballow than in the deep silos, and more ra]iid 

 when com or clover is juit in wholr than wlun cut. because it is inii)ossibl(' to t'tcd 

 the surface down as evenly and keep it as smooth. My imjuession is tliat the sihige 

 should bo lowered at least 2 inches daily, and that 3 would be better. Taking :> 

 inches as thedci>th fed daily, 10 as the nuiiibi-r of animals. 150 days as the feeding 

 period, and 1.5 cubic feet as the amount fed to each animal daily, a round silo 17.5 

 Icet inside diameter and o7 feet dee]» would be reijuired. The same conditions wonhl 

 also be met by a round silo 22 feet inside diameter, 24 feet deep, with a ])arti1iou 

 through the center. 



Where all the silage can be fed conveniently from one point and a large amount 

 of silage must be stored, one silo with partitions is not only much cheaper but better 

 than separate stru<tures, because th<> additional corners can not admit air from the 

 outside when the pits are full and the round silo with partitions makes less corners 

 than tJie rectangular ones do. 



Two-inch partitions give ample .strength where the tilling takes place on both sides 

 at once; .and if it is desired to fill one i>it fasttr than tin- other, temjiorary braces 

 may be placed in the em])ty pit and n-moved as it is lilletl. I believe that two 

 tliicknesscs of boards with i)aper between make a better partition than the 2-inch 

 plank, which appear to be more commonly used. 



Whatever tends to the expulsion and exclusion of lutangled air must conserve the 

 silage, and whatever tends to leave or form cavities in which air can lodge in bulk, 

 experience shows, leads to spoiled sihige. Cross rods, overhanging ledges, and jiro- 

 jecting stones should be avoided, as they hold up the silage, forming cavities into 

 which air collects,' enabling the molds to grow. 



When tlie feeding of the silage does not begin very soon after the completion of 

 the tilling, a good covering lessens the waste. I have found the following practices 

 in regard to covering : 



(1) Some do not cover at all .ind have G to 12 inches of waste. 



(2) Some have used straw with no gain and possibly greater loss. 



(3) Many use green marsh hay. cut, and sometimes wet, with gooil results. 



(4) A few use chafl' with good results. 



(5) One has used boards covered with S inches of dry earth, wliieh is used after- 

 wards in the stables as an aksorbent. Silage keeps well. 



(6) One used straw and weighted with stone with poor results. 



(7) Some use cut marsh hay covered with plank, the cracks between planks cov- 

 ered with boards, and the whole weighted with stone. Little loss excei)t at edges 

 and corners. 



(8) Others use a layer of cut straw, tlien boards, then tar paper and boards :)^aiu. 

 Keeps perfectly except at edges and corners. 



(9) Still others have used first paper, and then boards, weighted with stone, with 

 good results. 



