SILOS, EHSILAGE AND SILAGE. 13 



lowing translation of an article from a French Encyclo- 

 pedia,* which embodies most of M. Doy&re's con- 

 clusions". 



" The Preservation of Cereals. This question inter- 

 ests in the highest degree every civilized country. It is 

 important for the welfare of nations that, when the har- 

 vest is superabundant and the corn at a low price, a part 

 of the produce in excess should be preserved, so as to 

 circulate the same when a bad harvest arrives unexpect- 

 edly, and the price of corn tends to rise above the ordi- 

 nary value. But two natural obstacles exist to the pres- 

 ervation of corn. They are (1) the dampness, which 

 causes it to ferment, and (2) the insects which destroy 

 considerable quantities of it. 



"In Egypt, where it never rains, and in other coun- 

 tries where rains are rare, the problem is easily solved by 

 the employment of the 'silo.' The 'silo' is simply an 

 excavation, the sides of which are lined with masonry, 

 then relined, as also is the bottom, with a layer of very 

 dry straw. After the pit or silo has been filled, the 

 grain is covered with straw, and the silo is closed by 

 means of an arch in masonry, in which is placed an 

 opening with a movable lid, so that one can take out the 

 grain from it as needed. 



"The grain is preserved in the silo, without injury, 

 for an indefinite time. But in France, as in all northern 

 countries, the ensilage of the grain has not succeeded, 

 and this is attributed to the humidity of the soil, which 

 penetrates to the interior of even the best-constructed 

 silos. Then it has been observed that corn, properly 

 ventilated, is less liable to become heated in the gran- 

 aries, than that left alone. It was believed that the 

 problem had been solved by the airing and ventilation 

 of the grain. 



* Dictionnalre Francaise illustr** et ency'l. Universelle, par B. Duplney de Vore- 

 pierre, Paris: Michael-Levy frres, 1867, T. 1, p. 503, 



