16 SILOS AND ENSILAGE. 



so built that the roof of the barn could be extended to 

 cover the silos. In some cases it may be most convenient 

 to build the silo within the barn, or, where a basement 

 has been made for the reception of manure, it may be 

 better to convert the basement into silos, and dispose of 

 the manure elsewhere. 



So long as our experimenters are not yet agreed as to 

 the best form of the silo, some holding that a deep and 

 narrow one, in the form of a pit or well, is better than a 

 long and shallow one upon the surface, the proper loca- 

 tion is difficult to determine. The essential points to 

 be observed in building a silo are given in the following 

 pages, and a consideration of these may help in determin- 

 ing the location. 



It must be borne in mind that the silo is to be filled 

 and to be emptied. The filling is accomplished in a few 

 days, while the emptying, by feeding out its contents, 

 may extend through several months. Hence convenience 

 in feeding the contents must, other things being equal, 

 largely determine the location of the silo. 



BUILDING A SILO. 



It is unfortunate that the first accounts of ensilage 

 were by those who were not obliged to regard expense, 

 but, having abundant means, could construct such silos 

 as seemed to be required. We may add here, that much 

 is yet to be done in "Americanizing " the whole matter, 

 and we have no doubt that the experiments now being 

 made will greatly simplify, not only the building of the 

 silo, but every other step in the method. The wealthy 

 dairy man or other proprietor may make an investment 

 of a few thousands, if he sees that it will give a good 

 return in the feeding of his hundred or more cows, 

 while the farmer with five cows, who all the more needs 

 the benefits that this new method may bring, can not, as 



