MARYLAND WEATHER SERVICE 347 



the silo of this type. A cement foundation is provided to assure a 

 firm base and the rest is built of lumber, dressed on the inside at 

 least, if not on both sides. No rough points, or corners are left, and 

 the finely cut ensilage is packed well against the walls, well dis- 

 tributed elsewhere, and any holes or spaces carefully guarded 

 against, contact with the air being the danger to be avoided, as spoiled 

 silage results. The loss from this cause in a well packed, and 

 tightly built silo, is not usually more than the top eight to twelve 

 inches, and after the silage is ready for use, the injury rarely ex- 

 tends further. 



By the use of ensilage the entire corn plant is utilized, except the 

 lowest six or eight inches of the stalk which are left as stubble, and 

 the richness of fresh fodder is largely preserved. To a less degree 

 the feeding value of the dry stalks may be retained through the use 

 of the various shredding machines, and feed cutters. These tear and 

 chop the stalks and attached blades, husks, and ears if there are any 

 left, into pieces so small as to he easily eaten by cattle with almost 

 no waste. The shredded fodder is almost ideal bedding material, 

 as its absorbing power is very great, and its fine condition makes its 

 distribution as bedding and later as compost, much more convenient 

 than is possible with coarse litter. There are machines on the mar- 

 ket which will take loose bundles of stalks and reduce the stalks 

 and blades to shredded fodder, and at the same time husk the ears, 

 throwing these to one side ; however, there does not seem to be much 

 call for these in this State, none having been seen in use during the 

 past two seasons. 



Cost. — The practice of "pulling blades" as the method first de- 

 scribed is often called, is a common but expensive one. The rate 

 paid for the labor necessary to gather the fodder makes the bulk 

 equivalent of a ton of timothy hay cost as much as the hay itself. 

 In some localities it is the custom for men or boys not otherwise 

 occupied at the time to hire out to "pull blades" at a rate of a dol- 

 lar a day, and to spend a considerable time in this work. The rate 

 paid is sometimes reckoned on the quantity prepared, especially 

 if done in part on shares, the basis being the amount which is gath- 

 ered into the piles or shocks which have been mentioned, and which 



