CROPS FOR FRED, SILOING, KTC. 



239 



the crop, whether it has been cut short, and the depth of 

 the silo. Thus ensilage may weigh from 20 to 251b. per 

 cubic foot near the surface ; at 12 feet deep may weigh 

 between 40 and 501b. So the greater the depth the greater 

 the capacity per foot. To store 50 tons, say 12 feet in depth 

 and 1 2 feet diameter is necessary. The further calculation 

 is that silos of 20 feet diameter hold 109 tons, 122 tons, 135 

 tons, 149 tons, 163 tons, 179 tons, and 194 tons, when 17, 

 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 feet deep respectively. A 

 silo 30 feet deep and 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 

 or 24 feet in diametei', will hold, approximately, 105, 119, 

 134, 157, 168, 187, 205, 225, 246, or 268 tons of ensilage 

 when well made and pressed. 



Ensilage from Native Herbage. During spring and 

 summer, grass and herbage grow more rapidly after rain 

 than stock can consume it, and in many cases the greater 

 quantity is lost or becomes food for bush fires. The making 

 of bush hay is expensive, is attended with risks, and only 

 in special cases is the dried bush hay of any great value. 

 On Liverpool Plains some 1500 tons of bush grass were 

 converted into excellent ensilage. In appearance the stuft' 

 when opened up seemed rather wet, but it did not 

 smell unpleasantly, and stock took to it quickly. The 

 work of getting and stacking it employed 26 men, 

 three mowing machines and an acme hay-raker during 

 two weeks. 



Cost of Ensilage. 

 In the case stated, the 

 cost of making the en- 

 silage was 4s. per ton, 

 but with the appliances 

 now available, and the 

 experience gained, pos- 

 sibly 2s. ('d. may cover 

 the cost. Maixo en- 

 silage costs about 6s. 



Cutting Down for Enailftg*. pel* toil. 



Ensilage as Feed. Although [disappointments have 

 occurred, because of the extravagant claims made 



