194 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Myrick. You compressed it ? 



Dr. Sturtevant. We compressed it, but that operation 

 is entirely unnecessary. 



Prof. Alvord. What was the shape of the stack? 



Dr. Sturtevant. Perfectly level on the top, with per- 

 pendicular sides. The weight of the upper foot is sufficient 

 to give all necessary compression. We placed a sloping 

 roof over it of common boards to keep the rain from striking 

 in. At the present date the ensilage is in perfect condition. 



Question. It is open on the sides? 



Dr. Sturtevant. The sides are open. I think ten by 

 fourteen feet on the ground and is built up about eight feet 

 high. 



Question. Is there any decomposition on the sides ? 



Dr. Sturtevant. Yes, sir ; but it is irregular. 



Question. How far? 



Dr. Sturtevant. It had gotten in about three inches 

 in some places and in a few spots running in a foot. But 

 we have not yet opened the whole stack, so that we cannot 

 speak conclusively. We know that in some places the 

 decomposition extends in only about three inches. But the 

 curious thing is, that the great solid mass inside is appar- 

 ently in as perfect condition as hay would be. 



Question. Was the material cut? 



Dr Sturtevant. The Hungarian grass and hay were not 

 cut ; the coarser materials were. The apparatus came so 

 late that we could not prepare for it, and hence put on 

 whatever we could get. We simply laid down boards to 

 keep the material from the earth and to get a bearing for the 

 compressing apparatus, which we do not consider necessary 

 now. 



Question AVould you make the stack right up as soon 

 as you could, or would you rather wait? 



Dr. Sturtevant. In putting in ensilage our experience 

 is that it wants to be put in slowly, so as to allow each layer 

 to get its maximum heat before the next layer is applied. 



Question. Was this Hungarian grass and the other grass 

 cut before the dew was off? 



Dr. Sturtevant. It was cut accordinor to convenience. 

 In experiments of this kind we want to do as the average 



