lo Nov., 1909.] The Silo in the Lilydale District. 



677 



In regard to silage-making Mr. Kerr has many experiences to relate, 

 and suggestions to offer. One of these latter is put forward as a possible 

 solution of an apparently inexplicable occurrence that has at times taken 

 place in connexion with silage-making. In some instances reports have 

 -come to hand of a silo having been carefully filled with material that should 

 have made good silage; and yet the result has not been satisfactory. Mr. 

 Kerr suggests that the trouble may possibly arise through too much 

 trampling — or rather from injudicious trampling — at some time during the 

 filling. He considers that good silage can be made with a minimum of 

 trampling providing the material is evenly spread in the pit. When silage 

 was first being made on the farm in the large pits, it was observed that 

 where the loads of maize were dumped into the pit the silage did not turn 

 •out as good in quality as in the other parts where the material was placed 

 gradually in the spreading. The reason for this was set down as being 

 that too much pressure Avas applied at one time to that particular place. 



CUiXCkklli BLOCK. SILO, MR. JOHN KERR S FARM. 



Thenceforward every endeavour was made to spread the maize without any 

 more trampling than could not be avoided, and the result was satisfactory. 

 Mr. Kerr's opinion is that possibly in those cases where failure has been 

 reported, the heating material in the pit has been again well trampled down 

 in the mornings before any more material was filled in; and it is the 

 application of weight at that stage which he considers injurious. He 

 arrives at this conclusion by the following theory : — 



" Exclusion of air is 'the secret of good silage-making. This is 

 obtained bv the spontaneous heating and consolidating of an evenly packed 

 body of green fodder. The effect of trampling on heating fodder is to 

 expel some warm air wherever the weight is applied, and, owing to the 

 spring of the material, to allow for some cold air intake as the pressure is 

 removed. Overheating v,^ill result from this. If it were possible to evenly 

 spread the chaffed fodder without anv trampling it would slowlv settle, 

 and good silage would be made with a minimum of heating. Failing 



