CHAP. via. OJ'EN-AIR SILAGE STACKS. 847 



for it is there that waste takes place. It will be found that uioul I 

 forms near the surface within three days ; therefore, when making 

 silage, fresh material should he added at least every three days until 

 the silo is finally closed. The weight may be applied in any way that 

 is found most convenient, according to local circumstances. Earth, 

 stones, pig-iron, and other materials have been successfully used, but 

 it is now most common to adopt one of the mechanical methods 

 specially made for compressing silage, illustrations of which will be 

 found (page 754) in the section of this work devoted to implements. 



The great increase in the popularity of ensilage some years ago 

 was largely due to the progress made in the open-air or stack method 

 of making silage. No expensive outlay is required, and the slightest 

 preparations are sufficient to enable a start to be made. Hence, 

 when the farmer finds that haymaking is impossible, he can, with- 

 out loss of time, commence gathering liis crop together and convert 

 it into silage. The most simple of all S3 r stems is the making of a 

 silage clamp, which is a heap formed on the same plan as the drawn-up 

 dung-hill. The rules which apply to the proper manufacture of silage 

 in the silage clamp are applicable more or less to the making of silage 

 in the silo, or silage stack, and afford a guide as to what should be 

 observed and what avoided. Practice has shown that the following 

 rules should be followed in making the silage clamp. 



Grass should be mown as soon as, or before, the majority of the 

 grasses are in bloom ; clover when the whole crop is in flower ; peas 

 and vetches just when the pods are forming, but before they commence 

 filling ; oats and other cereals when the grain commences to form ; 

 and rough trimmings from, banks and ditches at any convenient time, 

 but as these are not very valuable it is advisable to cut them when 

 they may be used to form the top layer. In selecting a place for the 

 clamps, advantage should be taken of hill-sides, so that the dra wing-up 

 tongue may be as shallow as possible, thereby lessening the quantity 

 which will require turning up when finishing the clamp. It is best to 

 cart immediately behind the scythe, unless the material is exceptionally 

 succulent, as in the case of sewage-grown grass : the weight of the 

 material thus helps to ensile that below it. The herbage should be 

 carted together in such a way that the horses and carts cross it, thus 

 consolidating it, and a roller drawn by one or more horses should be 

 used to press it down, and make it more easy for horses to cart over. 

 The carts, roller, and horses would not afford sufficient weight to 

 compress the mass at once into the solid condition in which it comes 

 out as silage, and which weighs from 50 to 60 Ib. per cubic foot. But 

 when fermentation takes place the fibre in the material softens, and 

 readily submits to compression. It has already been stated that 

 mould forms if fresh material is not added within three days, so that 

 no time exceeding this should be allowed to pass without fresh 

 supplies being brought. This point must also be considered with 

 reference to the sides, which should be kept hand-pulled, or pared 

 daily, otherwise the portion taken off the sides will be in a mouldy 

 condition when put on the top. 



