DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



should be taken to thoroughly tramp the silage, especially around the outside of 

 the silo. Keeping the silage against the wall higher than the remainder of the silo 

 will cause the material to settle more firmly. 



ADDING WATER. 



Unless water is added, alfalfa or clover will not pack to the same extent as 

 corn. For this reason the addition of water is recommended. If a small stream 

 can be turned into the silage-cutter, better silage will result. The thorough wetting 

 of the walls of the silo while filling will also tend to prevent fire-fanging and mould- 

 ing around the outside. Clover or alfalfa silage will usually have a stronger odour 

 than corn silage, but, when fed, good results will be secured if it is properly made. 

 The odour is due to the high protein content of the clover and alfalfa. If these 

 crops are mixed with grasses sweeter and better silage will be secured. This is 

 probably due to an increase in the carbohydrate content from which the preservative 

 acids are formed. Essentials in making clover and alfalfa silage: 



(1.) A good silo. 



(2.) Finely cut material. 



(3.) Thoroughly damp material. 



(4.) Thorough tramping. 



ENSILING OTHER CROPS. 



The use of grain-crops for silage purposes has not yet become popular, but many 

 - have been made with good results. According to our present knowledge, the 

 best time to cut grain for this purpose is when the entire plant is yet green and the 

 kernels are in the milk stage. At this time the straw is not hollow, and a more 

 thorough exclusion of the air from the silage is the result. The rules that api >: 

 the making of clover or alfalfa silage apply equally to the making of grain silage ; 

 i.e.. the material must be cut fine, thoroughly dampened and tramped. The fall-sown 

 grains, fall wheat and fall rye, are popular for this purpose on account of the ton- 

 nage that is usually secured. A mixture of either of the two crops mentioned with 

 fall vetch has given good results when made into silage. 



SIZE OF SILO. 



When a silo exceeds 16 feet in diameter it requires more work to get the silage 

 to the door than in the smaller types. It also requires a large amount to be fed 

 daily in order to keep the silage from spoiling, due to contact with the air. The 

 pressure on the silage is measured by the height of the silo rather than by its 

 diameter, so the tall, slim silo will hold practically as much per square foot of wall 

 surface as the short broad one. On account of the extra capacity of the tall ones, 

 it is seldom advisable to build one less than 30 feet in height. If the blower is 

 used in filling, the height does not interfere with the convenience or cost of filling 

 to any noticeable degree. 



At least IVj inches should be fed daily during the winter and twice that amount 

 during the summer, if the silage is to be kept in good condition. 



RATE OF FEEDING FROM SILOS OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS. 



