18 N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 305 



How Much of the Material was Put Into the Silo Green, Slightly 



Wilted or WeU Wihed? 



Two hundred forty-three operators reported ensiling crops green, while 

 67 reported storing their crops in the slightly wilted stage. Seven reported 

 storing their crops in the well wilted stage. It is interesting to note that 

 the greatest number of recommendations to farmers putting up grass silage 

 were made by operators on this question. Ninety-eight of these operators 

 stressed the value of high moisture in the material being ensiled. 



Was Material Picked up From Swath or Windrow? 



One hundred forty-one operators report picking up the material from 



the swath, and 198 from the windrow. Seven used binders and two bunched 



the material. 



Was Hay Loader Used? 



One hundred fifty-nine used hay loaders and 152 did not. 



Loader Troubles 



Breakage was generally reported for all cylinder-rope loaders especially 

 of ropes and slats. Cylinder rake-bar loaders constructed for green ma- 

 terial were generally satisfactory. Twenty-four operators pointed out the 

 necessity for equipment specially constructed for handling green crops. 



Method of Hauling 



Two hundred twenty-nine operators hauled their green material by 

 wagon and 136 used trucks. Eighteen reported using both wagons and trucks. 



Kind of Cutter 



Fourteen makes of cutters were reported. 



Length of Cut 



Seventy-nine reported setting the cutters for Y^" cut ; 143 for Yz" cut ; 

 43 for y^" cut ; and 47 for over Ya^' cut. 



Cutter or Blower Troubles 



One hundred eighty-two reported having had no trouble with their cut- 

 ters or blowers; whereas 137 reported troubles, many of which were easily 



corrected. 



Method of Tramping 



Two hundred twenty-two operators reported that they used only one 

 man in the silo for tramping and distributing. Sixty-four used 2 men, 

 while 8 used 3 men. Fifty-three operators reported no men in the silo ex- 

 cept for leveling. 



Sealing the Silo 



One hundred seventeen operators reported that no special seal was used, 

 whereas 102 reported that they used some method of sealing their silos. 

 Twenty-three reported additional tramping as a seal. 



Size of Silo 



Silos reported ranged in diameter from 8 to 30 feet, and in height from 

 8 to 90 feet. 



