178 HOW TO MAKE SILAGE. 



The length of cutting practiced diffe'rs somewhat with different 

 farmers and with the variety of corn to be siloed. Care should 

 be taken in this respect, however, for the length of cut has much 

 to do with the quality of the silage. Experience has demonstrated 

 that the half inch cut, or even shorter, gives most satisfactory 

 results. The corn will pack and settle better in the silo, the finer 

 it is cut, thus better excluding the air and at the same time in- 

 creasing the capacity of the silo, some say 20 to 25 per cent. 

 Cattle will also eat the larger varieties cleaner if cut fine, and the 

 majority of farmers filling silos now practice such cutting. 



The cut ensilage should be directed to the outer edge of the 

 silo at all times, thus keeping it high and packing it there, letting 

 the center take care of itself. The weight of the silage packs it 

 in the center. 



If the corn is siloed "ears and all," it is necessary to keep 

 a man or boy in the silo while it is being filled, to level the sur- 

 face and tramp down the sides and corners; if left to itself, the 

 heavier pieces of ears will be thrown farthest away and the light 

 leaves and tops will all come nearest the discharge; as a result 

 the corn will not settle evenly, and the different layers of silage 

 will have a different feeding value. Several simple devices, such 

 as funnel-shaped hoppers, adjustable board suspended from roof, 

 etc., will suggest themselves for receiving the silage from the car- 

 rier and directing it where desired in the silo. With the blower 

 machines, the new flexible silo tube, shown in the back of this 

 book, is a most happy solution of an otherwise disagreeable job. 

 At the same time it insures perfectly equal distribution of the cut 

 feed; the leaves, moisture and heavier parts being always uni- 

 formly mixed as cut. 



The Proper Distribution of the Cut Material in the Silo. 



The proper distribution of the cut corn after it has been ele- 

 vated or blown into the silo is a matter which should have proper 

 attention at the time of filling. If the cut material is allowed to 

 drop all in one place and then have no further attention the con- 

 stant falling of the material in one place will tend to make that 

 portion solid while the outside will not be so and besides the 

 pieces of ears and heavier portions will continually roll to the 

 outside. As a result the silage cannot settle evenly, and good 



