PROPER DISTRIBUTION OF CUT MATERIAL. 155 



The Proper Distribution of the Cut Material 

 in the Silo. 



The proper distribution of the cut corn after it has 

 been elevated 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 constant 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 out- 

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

 results will not follow. As the filling progresses, the cut 

 material should be leveled off and the common and most 

 successful practice is to keep the material higher at the 

 sides than at the center and do all the tramping at and 

 close to the sides, where the friction of the walls tends 

 to prevent as rapid settling as takes place at the center. 

 For this reason, no tramping, or at least, as little as 

 possible, should be done, except close to the walls. In 

 modern deep silos, the weight of the silage accomplishes 

 more than would any amount of tramping, and all that is 

 necessary, is to see that the cut material is rather evenly 

 distributed, for better results in feeding, and to assist the 

 settling by some tramping at the sides. With the new silo 

 tube, this distribution is really reduced to the mere guid- 

 ing of the mouth of the tube by hand. 



Size of Cutter and Power Required. 



The "Ohio" Cutters are made in a variety of sizes, 

 suited to all requirements. 



The cutter used in filling the silo should have ample 

 capacity to give satisfaction and do the work rapidly; a 

 rather large cutter is therefore better than a cutter that 

 is barely large enough. The size required depends on 

 the rapidity with which it is desired to fill the silo and; 

 on the power at hand. Where a steam engine is avail- 

 able it is the cheapest power for filling a large silo, as the 



