67 



sitj, and, after nearly kiHin'^ t^-ie te\m, abandoned it, and se.ured 

 a threshing machine sweep power on which four horses were used. 



In making these changes so much time was required that we 

 were obliged to place the plank over ensilage already cut, and 

 weight them down with stone, as though we had finished. Upon 

 resuming work again, the stone and plank had to be removed, of 

 course. Beside the?e annoyances, we found that the knives of 

 the cutter were of such poor qaality that they required grinding 

 every three or four hours. 



If the experiences of the farm are of any avail in helping oth- 

 ers to be cautious and to make due allowance for newspaper ac- 

 counts and manufacturers' statements, our labors will not have 

 been in vain. It must b3 remembered that to handle three or 

 four tons of long green fodder every hour, from field to wagon 

 and from wagon to cutter, and thence into the silo, requires a- 

 good force of hands, and all arrangements perfect, if economy is 

 to be considered. 



OPENING THE SILO. 



Tbe silo was opened November 29l;h, by throwing out the stone 

 resting on four of the plank at the end farthest fro.m the barn and 

 removing them. The clover under the plank was partly decayed 

 for about half an inch down, and below this it was mouldy for 

 two or three inches. Close to the walls all the clover was more or 

 less mouldy. As before stated the clover layer was about a foot 

 thick resting on the corn. The whole of it looked so inferior that 

 I had it thrown out of the door at the end of the silo upon the 

 ground below. Here it remained for several days, receiving no 

 thought except that it was so much lost clover, and that as soon 

 as the teamster had a spare hour it should go to the manure heap. 



By using a hay knife one could cut down through the ensilage, 

 making a straight wall on the uncovered side. The fodder corn 

 was in fine order from the top, though dryer than I had supposed 

 it would be. As we dug deeper it became more and more moist, 

 but not so wet a-3 to drip water. This, as all ensilage, is of a 

 brown color and has the characteristic odor and taste. 



Upon offering the ensilage to the farm cows, three out of the 

 twelve refused to eat it. Those that ate seemed puzzled over it, 



