20 JonniaJ of Agr!cultiin\ Victoria. [lo Jan.. 1912.. 



.several feet higher than the .surface. If it has been well filled and'' 

 packed, it will only shrink to surface level. (^"ut drains around the -pit 

 to prevent water flowing in. 



Stack Silage. 



A stack of silage is built in the same wav as a stack of hay. The- 

 necessary precautions to take are to guard against building the stack large- 

 in area and low in height, as a large amount of green material can be- 

 placed in a .small area. Hav stack dimensions are of nO' value for silage- 

 stacks. In general practice, it is found that one-fourth the area of a 

 ton of hay will hold a ton of silage. 



During building, the stack sh;.ul(l be weighted every night after' 

 ceasing work. This can be done by suspending weights on wires across 

 the stack, or placing .some weightv material on it. Finish off the stack 

 in a .suitable shape tO' resist the weather, and weight it tO' assist settling - 

 and exclusion of air. 



Several ilevices for weighting suick silage have been tried, but none 

 are .so satisfactory as the dead weight on top. It is ever doing its 

 duty and does not require any attention after being placed there. I.ogs, 

 stones, sand, bricks or earth may be used for weighting. One good 

 plan is to make a framework of heavy saplings. Lav these around the- 

 edges. cutting notches in them so that they will fit intO' each other where 

 joined; then fill between them and all over the stack with earth. This • 

 device will do good work and give satisfaction. 



Opening the Silo. 



When opening a silo carefully remove the weight and seal. The-- 

 latter, together with any mouldy silage that may be on top. should be- 

 placed on the manure heap for future use as humus for the soil. 



The silage required should be daily .scraped off in layers from the top- 

 and bagged or passed down a chute to the feed truck. Avoid, as far 

 as practicable, sinking holes in the silage; in fact, keep as little of the 

 silage exposed to the air as possible. Remember, air is the chief 

 factor in destroving silage. Some careful farmers cover their silage with 

 a tarred bag sheet immediately they have removed all they want for the- 

 day. 



Datlv Ration. 



The dailv ration of silage for a dairy cow i-;, fmm 30 to 40 lbs., when 

 fed wnth other fodders; when there is some grass available. 30 lbs. per 

 day is ample. Sheep will eat as much as 3 lbs. a day, but 2 lbs. will 

 keep big wethers or ewes in good condition. . It is advisal)le tO' give- 

 horses small quantities only of silage, otherwise there may be trouble from 

 stomach derangements ; limit the amoimt fed to a few lbs. per day. 

 Pigs and poultry will only eat .small quantities. 



Advantages of Silage. 



Silage mav be made of all plants that animals are allowed to eat in'" 



the green state and such fodder preserved by this means loses but littl'^ 



of its feeding properties in the process. In one way there is a slight 



improvement, that is, the tougher fibre of siloed fodder is softened and 

 made therebv more digestible and acceptable to animals. 



At no time of the year do animals do better than in the height of 



-spring; they then rapidly make flesh and yield their maximum flow of 



