506 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



that a small portion can be uncovered at one time in opening, thus exposing to the atmosphere 

 only what is taken out, which should be cut down vertically. A little space is usually left 

 between these planks for the escape of air from the silo as the mass settles. Every facility 

 should also be made for the covering to move so freely that it will meet with no obstacles on 

 the sides of the silo, but follow the whole mass as it settles, thus excluding all air, by a uni 

 form pressure. The weights for compressing the ensilage should be evenly distributed on the 

 covering in order that the pressure may be equal in all parts of the silo. This will gradually 

 settle until the average shrinkage in the silo will equal about one-third the original bulk. 



Mr. Francis Moulton thus describes Mr. Mills method of filling a silo : &quot; The corn is 

 harvested in the latter part of September, when the stalks are fully matured not dead, but 

 whilst still green in color and filled with saccharine matter. This stage of growth is 

 indicated by full tasseling and the beginning to ear. The harvesting is done in the ordinary 

 old-fashioned way, by hand, with a stalk knife, and a sufficient labor force is employed to fill 

 a pit of 300 tons capacity within three days, because it is essential to gather and cut the corn 

 and put it into the silo, and get it under uniform and continuous pressure within the shortest 

 possible time, in order to save all the food properties. Mr. Mills uses two corn-cutters, one 

 cutting one-half inch, and the other an inch length, of a combined capacity of 100 tons per 

 day, using steam-power for the purpose. 



He has two silos or pits, each 40 feet long, 13 feet wide, and 20 feet deep, located in the 

 center of his barn, the walls of which are constructed of a concrete of stone and cement two 

 feet thkjk, the sides and ends parallel, and the bottom well cemented. Upon the walls, flush 

 with the inside of them, a structure of ordinary boards is built, fifteen feet high, which serves 

 as a feeder to the pit, and which, when both are filled, will compensate for the shrinkage of 

 the mass by compression. &quot;When the pit and feeder are filled, the surface is leveled, and sec 

 tional covers four feet in width, and in length one inch shorter than the width of the pit, are 

 placed upon it, upon which are placed 50 tons of grain in bags (making five tons to each sec 

 tion) evenly distributed. Mr. Mills uses grain for weight because it is convenient. Any 

 thing else that can be uniformly distributed would answer. It takes about ten days for the 

 whole mass to compress sufficiently for the covers to be on a, level with the top of the pit, and 

 then the feeder can be taken down. Mr. Mills allows no tramping or mussing of the mass, 

 for the reason that he finds that any portion of the succulent stalks subjected to pressure will 

 cause the juice to exude, and immediately upon relieving the pressure the air takes its place 

 in the cellular tissue of the plant, and fermentation results in the body of the mass. The one 

 inch of space between the cover and the sides of the pit is left for the escape of air and 

 ambient moisture ; the uniform and continuous pressure forces out the atmosphere and gases 

 which may have accumulated while preparing the mass for pressure through the half -inch 

 opening between the cover and the sides, and keeping them out until the pressure is 

 removed. 



When this fodder is to be used for the cattle, the bags of grain from the first section of 

 the cover are removed and their contents ground for use, while the fodder lying immediately 

 underneath them is being fed. The fodder is taken down perpendicularly to the bottom of 

 the pit. Thus one section after another is fed until the whole is exhausted.&quot; 



Removing Fodder from Silos. When the fodder in the silo is needed for use, the 

 weight and cover from the first section should be removed, exposing as little of the contents 

 of the silo as possible to the action of the air. The fodder is then taken out perpendicularly 

 to the bottom of the pit. 



While one section is being used, the pressure on the remaining ones should continue to 

 be the same, which practice will exclude the air as effectually, and thus fermentation be as 

 completely obviated as though each section were in a separate pit. One section after another 

 is thus fed out until the silo is empty. 



