SILOS, ENSILAGE AND SILAGE. 23 



"Much, however, must depend on the succulency of 

 the crop. Each layer of four or five cwts. is spread 

 evenly over the bottom, is well trodden down by five or 

 six men, and, especially, is rammed as close as possible 

 at the sides with the aid of wooden rammers. 



" Each layer is thus salted, watered if necessary, and 

 trodden in succession till the pit is perfectly full. 

 Much depends upon the perfect treading of the grass 

 for the exclusion of the air, and, therefore, for a pit of 

 ten feet square, four cwts. are as much as ought to be 

 put in for each layer. Between each layer may be 

 strewed a few handfuls of straw, in order that, when 

 emptying the pit afterwards for the daily consumption 

 of the stock, the quantity taken out may be known 

 without the necessity of a second weighing. 



" When the pit is full, the topmost layer is well salted, 

 the whole then covered with boards, or a well-fitting lid, 

 and upon these a foot and a half of earth, for the more 

 perfect exclusion of the air. A pit ten feet square and 

 as many deep will hold about five tons of fresh grass, 

 and each pit should, if possible, be filled in not less than 

 two days. 



"When covered up the grass speedily heats and fer- 

 ments, and after the lapse of about six days, when the 

 fermentation has ceased, the whole has sunk to about 

 one-half of its original bulk. 



" The lid must be examined during the fermentation, 

 at least once a day, and the earth, as it sinks, carefully 

 replaced wherever crevices appear ; for, if the air be 

 allowed to gain admission, a putrefactive fermentation 

 will come on, which will impart a disagreeable odor to 

 the fodder, though it will not prevent it from being 

 eaten by the stock. When the first fermentation has 

 ceased, the lid may be removed, the pit again filled with 

 fresh grass, trodden in, salted, and covered as before. 



