FILLING THE SILO. 343 



The silage will continue to settle for several 

 days, so that a large space will be left vacant above 

 the silage. Where two silos are to be filled that are 

 near at hand, the difficulty will be partially met by 

 filling both at the same time, that is to say, by filling 

 one in part and then the other in successive alterna- 

 tions until both are full. More time is thus given 

 for the silage to settle. For the same reason, when 

 a silo is being rilled with a division in it, the two 

 divisions should be likewise filled simultaneously. 

 And when thus filled the danger from pressing the 

 division away from the perpendicular is also ob- 

 viated. But it has not yet been demonstrated that 

 quick or reasonably slow filling materially affects the 

 character of the silage. 



The proper distribution of the food in the silo 

 is a matter of no slight importance. When it is al- 

 lowed to fall from the carriers which convey it to the 

 silo, the mass rises up in the center in the shape of a 

 cone. From this cone the food rolls down toward 

 the sides of the silo. But in doing so, the lighter 

 portions, as for instance the leaves of corn, are 

 forced outward by the heavier portions, as the grain 

 and stem. The quality of the silage, therefore, on 

 the outer edges is frequently inferior to that in and 

 near the center of the same, especially when it con- 

 tains less grain. If, therefore, the quality of the 

 silage is to be uniform in the silo, it must be carefully 

 distributed from the first. 



But still greater harm will follow from allowing 

 the silage thus to pile up in the center. It will not 

 settle evenly. The pressure is greatest in the center, 

 and the tendency in settling will be to draw away the 



