SILOS AND SILAGE. 7<il 



The dimensions of the silo are 'M I >\ l'O feet by It; feci deep, but a temporary 

 end made of sleepers can be placed so as to enclose but half tins capacity, 

 or remove back according to the amount of fodder available. A tall of 1 foot 

 in the 36 was allowed for drainage. 



No arrangements have been made for any roofing, as in dry climates 

 1 foot or IS inches of earth would be sufficient to absorb all excepting the 

 very heavy rainfalls. 



Over 80 tons of maize silage have been placed in a section of this silo 

 with very satisfactory results as regards costs and waste. 



OVERGROUND SILOS. 



In the dairying districts of the State the overground silo, in one form or 

 another, has come to be regarded as a necessary adjunct to the most 

 economical conduct of the industry. Several classes of material can be used 

 for the construction of overground silos; they are principally stone, brick, 

 wood, or concrete. Each of these has its own recommendations, and the 

 choice depends in a considerable degree on which is the nearest to the farm, 

 and its cost compared with the others. In the opinion of a good many 

 farmers the wood silo turns out the best silage, and concrete the next nest, 

 but the point is not one about which there is entire unanimity. Both stone 

 and brick — unless plastered with cement mortar — absorb a good deal of the 

 moisture in the vegetable material ensiled, and the " cure " is, therefore, not 

 so satisfactory nor the fodder so palatable when ultimately fed to stock. 



The cost of an overground silo will vary considerably according to the 

 nature of the material used in construction, locality, &c. The size also affects 

 the proportionate cost, the large silo costing considerably less per ton 

 capacity than the small one. Generally speaking, however, it may be said 

 that the 100-ton silo is fair value for the outlay. It may be mentioned here 

 that it is a serious mistake to make the silo too small, for small quantities 

 of material do not ensile well, and are apt to produce such a proportion 

 of waste as to make the enterprise disappointing. 



The silo should be as handy to the bails as circumstances will allow, so 

 that feeding may be carried on with 'the least possible amount of labour. 

 Should the dairy-farmer be building both bails and silos, and can find a steep 

 bank in a convenient position, he may place the lower part of the silo into 

 the face of the rising ground, and have bails running out from it 



Shape of the Silo. 



The silo should be circular in shape, or as nearly so as practicable. The 

 stave, or tub silo, is circular; but frame silos may be octagonal, or have 

 more than eight sides, all equal. The more sides they have the better, as 

 they then approach to the circular form. A circular silo will contain more 

 cubic feet than any other form built with the same quantity of timber, which 

 is a great advantage from the point of cost; and moreover, a circular silo of 

 100 tons capacity has less wall surface, consequently less risk of " spoiling " 

 the silage, than any other form of the same capacity. Sharp corners are 

 objectionable, as the pressure tends to be uneven and this adds to the 

 percentage of waste. 



The silo, if it is to be a good one, must not have too much surface area ; 

 it cannot be too deep; it must be perfectly jointed together, so that it will 

 exclude the air from all sides; it must be strong; and last, but not least, it 

 must be convenient. 



