lo Dec, 1908.] 



Silos ami Silage. 



729 



Pits with two vertical sides are excavated by scoops to a depth of 

 10 feet in the centre, 15 feet wide and 90 feet in length, leaving a gradual 

 slope for entrance and exit. Into these excavations the surplus fodder is- 

 carted, the loaded drays going over the material already deposited, and 

 discharging their loads where desired. The fodder being treated at the 

 time of my visit consisted principally of wild oats, barley grass, and a 

 fair percentage of trefoil. The latter is a valuable constituent of the 

 silage as its food value is considerable. At this time of the year barley 

 grass in its natural state is not only useless as feed, but a nuisance, and a 

 menace to the sheep. The obnoxious seeds are rendered palatable by the 

 fermentation they undergo in the silo. The material is cut with mowers, 

 raked into rows, and carted with a minimum of handling to the pit. 

 Even when the material is piled up above the surface level, the drays still 

 traverse the fodder already stored. It is a most interesting sight to see 

 the teams climbing the steep inclined plane on the unstable material for 

 a footing. This constant traffic on the accumulating mass is of great 

 service in consolidating it and thus excluding air — an important feature in 

 sviccessful silage making. 



VkfiN 



CnOii dccriOH 



PLAN OF COLLENDINA SILAGE PIT. 



A simple but ingenious contrivance is utilized to unload the drays at 

 the required spot. This consists of wires attached to the back and of 

 sufficient length to reach the whole length of the dray. A hook is attached 

 to these wires and allowed to hang free over the front. The wires are 

 thrown on the floor of the empty dray and the load is put over them. 

 As the dxav is about to be drawn up the inclined plane of fodder, a rope 

 is passed through the hook. When it is desired to deposit the load, the 

 rope is tightened and the dray is drawn along leaving its burden on the 

 tl^e heap. The heap alx)ve ground corresponds in shape to the excavation 

 below and the material is carted up the two inclined planes in alternate 

 loads. There is no delav. The whole system has been so carefully planned 

 that it works automaticallv. When the heap is finished it is completely 

 covered bv about 2 feet of earth, and is then quite safe till required. 

 Showery weather, so inimical to hay making, is rather an advantage than 



