154 HOW TO MAKE SILAGE. 



The corn is unloaded on the table of the cutter and 

 run through the machine, after which the carrier or 

 blower elevates it and delivers it into the silo. The length 

 of cutting practiced differs somewhat with different farm- 

 ers 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 ex- 

 cluding the air and at the same time increasing the ca- 

 pacity of silo, some say 20 to 25 percent. 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 surface 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 dif- 

 ferent 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 carrier 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 in- 

 sures perfectly equal distribution of the cut feed; the 

 leaves, moisture and heavier parts being always uniformly 

 mixed as cut, 



