7 H 7 



may only be live a few days after. Where water is not available 

 a very simple and effective means of securing pressure is to get 

 good strong saplings about 4ft. wider than the stack. Two can In- 

 used every 5ft. along the stack, one above and one below, put down 

 before the stack is built, the ends of the saplings extended 2ft. on 

 either side beyond the stack ; on the upper sapling a stout rope is 

 fixed on either side, 2 or 3 feet longer than the stack is to be high. 

 When it is required to press the stack a double block and pulley is 

 used, and the upper sapling is hauled down by means of the block 

 and pulley as near the lower one as possible, and then made fast by 

 the rope already attached to it. The best way to do it is to start at 

 one side of the stack, and with the rope attached to the upper 

 sapling haul one end down and then make fast, then on the other 

 side fix the block and pulley and haul down until the sapling is level. 

 Haul the next one down first on the opposite side to the first one, 

 and by thus alternating them the stack can be kept plumb. 



It is not necessary to either fill a pit or complete a stack right 

 off ; they can be added to almost any time, and, if thoroughly 

 trodden on at first, will take no harm for several days without 

 pressure. Both pits and stacks should be made deep, as by that 

 means a considerable amount of pressure is obtained from the 

 weight of the material alone. 



Every dairy farmer ought to always have a considerable quan- 

 tity of silage on hand ; if not needed one season it will keep over 

 until the next, or for a good many seasons ; and should a dry year 

 come there is always a stand-by for the cows or any other stock 

 that may require it. Sheep, pigs and horses will all eat it and do 

 well. 



The making of silage is quite independent of the weather, it 

 can be made in wet weather as well as in dry ; thus crops can be 

 grown and utilised for silage at any time of the year. The expense 

 attached to making it is small, while the feeding value is very 

 great. 



The crops suitable for ensilage are many, and can be grown 

 to suit all climates, thus, grasses, clover, tares, peas, beans, lucerne, 

 trefoil, oats, wheat, barley, rye, and all the sorghum tribe, and maize. 

 Silage can be fed entirely to cattle from 50 to 70 pounds per day, 

 according to size, and they will thrive on it, or it may be given as a 

 ration with any other kind of food. 



Cattle will nearly always eat sweet ensilage right off, but some- 

 times they refuse the sour silage for some days, but eat it greedily 

 enough after. 



Fair average silage weighs about 48 to 50 pouuds to the cubic 

 foot, and for either summer or winter feed no dairy farm should be 

 without a good supply of silage. 



