SILOS, EKSILAGE AND SILAGE. 17 



the preservation of grain, silos are used on an extensive 

 scale, for the storage of grain, by the Paris Omnibus 

 Company, "some silos being below ground and some 

 above. 1 ' * 



In the evolution of the silo, for storing grain, from 

 the rude trenches mentioned by Pliny, to the permanent 

 structures of masonry of the Egyptians, and the more 

 perfect construction required in the comparatively hu- 

 mid climate of France, there was undoubtedly a great 

 variety of forms developed by experience to adapt the 

 details of practice to the conditions of each locality; 

 and it is probable that the system had a wider geograph- 

 ical range than our imperfect history of agricultural 

 practice seems to indicate. At the time of the discov- 

 ery of America by Columbus, Indian corn was stored 

 in pits by the natives, and the tribes beyond the Missis- 

 sippi still continue the practice. 



It is, perhaps, reasonable to assume that it was a com- 

 mon method of storing grain, among savage and migra- 

 tory tribes, to conceal it from their enemies and to pro- 

 vide against seasons of scarcity. 



* Jenkins, 1. c. p. 129, who refers to a " Report by M Muntz, ' Etudes sur la con- 

 servation des grains,' published in the 'Annals de 1'Institut National Agrono- 

 mique ' No. 4 of 1878-79, published in 1881." 



2 



