CEREAL AND FODDEB CROPS 163 



earlier silos were merely pits dug in the ground, some 

 of them lined with cement; but it was troublesome to 

 dig the ensilage from these pits, and to avoid this the 

 silo built above ground came into use. The modern 

 silo is usually built as a part of the feeding barn, and 

 on a level with the feeding floor.- It should always be 

 Mt uated as close as possible to the feeding stalls on 

 ut of the labor of handling the ensilage; for it is 

 both heavy ami bulky, and to carry it by hand for long 

 distances adds materially to its cost. 



Questions 



1. Name the three most important cereal crops of this 

 country. 2. What part of the crop is of most value? 3. In 

 what parts of the earth are corn, wheat, and oats grown? 

 4. How have the many different soils and climates affected 

 these crops? 5. What sort of roots have the cereals? 

 6. Name two regions especially noted for their production 

 of grain. 7. What is meant by fodder? 8. What is the 

 difference between green and dry fodder? 9. What is feed- 

 ing green fodder called? 10. What is ensilage? 11. What 

 is a silo? 12. How should the crop be prepared for storage 

 In the silo? 13. Why should fodder be cut up before storing 

 for ensilage? 14. What happens to the fodder when it is 

 first stored In the silo? 15. How is the fermentation of the 

 ensilage stopped? 16. Give some reasons why ensilage is 

 of value as a stock food. 17. About how old is the practice 

 of making ensilage? 18. About what year was ensilage first 

 made In this country? 



