By-Products 



165 



on the bottom and sides of the excavation in which the 

 tops are to be siloed. To absorb a part of the moisture 

 and to make the best use of the straw on the farm, a six- 

 inch layer of tops is often alternated with a three-inch 

 layer of straw as illustrated in Fig. 26, although the re- 

 sults are entirely satisfactory when no straw is used. 



earth'//// 



a^ftSpwjys^^ 



straw- 



FIG. 26. Beet-top silo with alternating layers of tops and straw. 



From three to seven pounds of salt for each ton of silage 

 is sometimes added while the silo is being filled. The 

 value of this practice is questioned by some feeders. 

 When all the tops are in the silo, a layer of straw is spread 

 over the top and eight to ten inches of earth thrown over 

 this to exclude the ah* as much as possible. In filling, it 

 is essential that each layer be rather firmly packed both 

 by the wagon delivering the tops and by a roller or by 

 horses led over the tops near the edges. The drier the 



