lo Jan., 191 2.] Silos and Silage. 19 



cutter it is carried by means of an elevator or blower, which should 

 deliver the material as near the centre of the silo as possible. This may 

 be done by the aid of bag chute attached to the mouth of the elevator 

 or the blower, whichever method is in use. 



The labour of distributing the fodder is thus minimized, and an even 

 sample of the material will be distributed all over the silo. If the 

 fodder be allowed to fall direct from the mouth of the conveyor, the 

 heaviest parts will fall on one side, and the lighter parts on the other — 

 the silage will not settle evenly and loss will eventuate. To assist in 

 the close packing of the silage it is absolutely essential to well trample 

 it all over the silo. Trampling the sides or around the edges is not 

 sufficient, for with the shrinking of the centre the outer edges creep 

 towards it and away from the walls, thus allowing access of air and 

 consequent loss. The centre should always be kept a little higher than 

 the outer edges. 



The rate of filling should not be under 5 ft. nor over 12 ft. per 

 day. Avoid, as much as possible, delays in filling ; a day or less is not 

 serious but a longer period will have adverse results. The amount of 

 settlement that takes place after the silo has been filled, sealed, and 

 weighted is a fair index as to how it has been filled and packed. In 

 a well filled silo it will amount to close on 3 ft., and more in those 

 that have not received proper attention. The writer has seen a shrinkage 

 of 10 ft. in a 2i-ft. silo that had been filled to the top but was not 

 trampled. The owner of this silo believed that trampling was injurious. 

 but after one season's trial he is now a greater advocate for trampling 

 and packing than he was for the other method. Too much stress cannot 

 be laid on the importance of well packing tJie silage in the silo. 



Sealing and Weighting. 



The satisfactory sealing and weighting of the silo are also very im- 

 portant features that make for success. Many devices have been tried 

 with more or less success, but all that is necessary is to cover the green 

 fodder with a sheet made of tarred bags and upon this place a foot of 

 chaffed straw or other waste material, and well wet same. This 

 is to encourage mould growths which act as an air-tight seal and thus 

 preclude air from gaining access to the silage. Upon the top of this 

 material place a foot deep of some weighty substances, such as sand, 

 earth, logs, brick or stone, to press down the top 4 or 5 ft. of silage; 

 all under that depth is pressed down by the weight ^'^ove. If the pre- 

 cautions mentioned are taken, the farmer will be pleased with both silo 

 and silage. 



The same precautions are necessarv when filling a pit silo, whether 

 the fodder be chaffed or not. When ensiling whole sheaves in a pit silo, 

 start building from the centre by first making a heap there and laying 

 the sheaves in such a manner that they are placed lengthwise along the 

 walls, not butt ends as in a stack. In this case the order is reversed to 

 assist in excluding the air. Always build with centre higher than the 

 sides; if time permits, cut the bands and remove them. 



If the pit is a large one, the ends of the pit should be sloped to 

 admit of the waggons or drays being driven right through the silo and 

 over the silage ; this will aid very much indeed in consolidating the 

 silage. If a small silo is in use, take a draught horse into it and walk 

 him around, after everv load is added, to pack the fodder. 



Seal in the same way as a tub silo, and weight with the earth taken 

 out of the excavation. As shrinkacf? will be considerable, build the silage 



