196 THE CREAMERY PATRON'S HANDBOOK. 



work for both husking out the ears and cutting them for the silo, and one 

 will do well to steer clear of the machine agent who advises to the con- 

 trary. 



ELEVATORS VS. BLOWERS. 



Formerly all feed cutters were provided with sprocket wheel and chain 

 elevators for elevating the cut fodder. Recently many firms have dis- 

 placed their elevators with blowers. They are much more convenient 

 than the elevators providing they are substantially made and have the 

 necessary force to blow the fodder to the top of the silo. Many purchasers 

 have been recently disappointed by getting machines that would not blow 

 the fodder over 20 feet high, hence it is wise to exercise caution in 

 selecting a blower. 



SIZE OF CUTTER. 



The size of feed cutter mouth should be large enough to take a good 

 sized bundle of corn, for when it is necessary to divide the bundle the feed- 

 ing becomes very slow and tiresome. 



POINTERS ON SILO FILLING. 



Don't fill the silo until the corn begins to glaze or you will have sour 

 ensilage. 



Don't allow the fodder to wilt badly before putting into the silo, or 

 it will lose much of its succulence and not thoroughly pack. 



Cut fine and pack well to exclude the air, as air promotes decomposi- 

 tion. 



Do the best part of the tramping about the edge. 



If you are without silo experience, don't try experiments, but take 

 advice straight from those who have succeeded. 



Keep the elevator chain very tight, as a loose chain is liable to jump 

 sprockets and cause a bad wreck before the power can be stopped. 



Don't wait for the dew to dry off nor stop for a rain while filling silo, 

 if you can keep the men at work, for water does no harm. 



If possible, leave the top of the silo open after filling, as a frequent 

 wetting maintains a damp surface mold, that excludes the air. If it is 

 impossible to leave the top exposed, a frequent wetting and tramping 

 down will be very beneficial. 



If your corn gets frosted or badly wilted, place a barrel above the foot 

 of elevator, fill with water and make a small hole at the bottom that will 

 allow enough water to escape to make the fodder heavy as it was while 

 green. 



