38 Colcord^s System of 



and goes on continuously for about two 

 months, when the silo is ready to be opened. 

 Briefly stated, it collects the air from all parts 

 of the silo, conveying it to the outside. When 

 the Carbonic Acid appears, being heavier than 

 air, it sinks to the bottom as it permeates the 

 forage, displacing the air, which it does grad- 

 ually and quietly, without mixing with it : the 

 silo governor alao conveys the surplus quantity 

 of Carbonic Acid outside, in the same manner; 

 it also operates in the same way with Acetic 

 Acid. These two acids and air are the only 

 gases we have to contend with when we use 

 the governor, which so perfectly removes and 

 governs them that we never have heat or 

 fermentation ; consequently, no decomposition 

 or development of foul odors. We keep a 

 thermometer in the centre of the silo, and 

 examine it frequently: we also measure the 

 quantity of juice in the bottom of the silo 

 daily, or as often as is necessary, by running 

 a long stick down to the bottom of the per- 

 pendicular pipe of the lower governor. We 

 get all the juice wanted from the corn, allow- 

 ing it to accumulate on the bottom 20 to 30 

 inches deep. This last season, we had 6 

 inches of juice before we could put on the 

 cover to press; the year before, we had 2 

 inches. This year we had a surplus of juice, 



