ENSILAGE FOR PROFITABLE DAIRYING 169 



rise above 95 Fahr., and the result is "sour" 

 silage. If the silo is filled gradually and weighted 

 less, then we have a higher spontaneous heating, 

 and the temperature rises rapidly to 1 20 Fahr. and 

 on to 1 60 Fahr. ; the resulting material has a sweet 

 smell and a sweetish taste, and is good silage. 

 If the temperature rises above 160 Fahr. the 

 fodder becomes burned, and it loses its value as 

 a food. 



The silo should be slowly and steadily filled, and 

 great care should be taken in packing it round the 

 sides, and if the silo is not deep the mass should be 

 weighted. The deeper the silo is the less weight it 

 requires should the crop be well packed, and the 

 temperature is more easily controlled in a deep silo. 

 When putting in the last or final layer worthless 

 green stuff may be put on and packed well down. 

 The air may also be excluded by spreading about 

 18 inches of bran on top and keeping it moistened, 

 or by sowing oats thickly on top, say 6 inches, and 

 keeping them damp until they germinate, when they 

 will " mat " and exclude air. 



Pressure is applied in different ways, such as use 

 of stones, bags of sand or paraffin tins filled with 

 stones or rough cement blocks. The deeper the 

 silo is the less pressure is required. A boarding 

 about 2 inches less than the inside diameter of the 

 silo should be used to put the weights on. The 

 weights may be left on until it is required to use the 



