2 34 Ensilage. 



chose this covering in order to exclude the air by a 

 cleaner and also a more effectual mantle than soil. 

 A shrinkage goes on, soil has a tendency to crack, 

 making openings that admit the air, and some por- 

 tions of the soil, at least, work down into the ensi- 

 lage. Moreover, there is the immense advantage of 

 perfect cleanliness combined with usefulness. " He 

 wrote this in 1883. In 1884 he says, "Further ex^ 

 perience has confirmed me in this view, i.e., a layer 

 of bran over the boards not less than four or five 

 inches in depth is the best possible covering." 



He adds in substance, by way of caution, that some 

 have fallen into a great mistake of putting the bran 

 under the planks instead of over, in which case the 

 bran was injured for feeding purposes. 



The method that seems to have met with most 

 universal favor in the States is to cut or spread over 

 the top grass, then boards or planks. Others have 

 covered with plank and earth, and report most favor- 

 ably. Others still have put no covering at all over 

 the silage except boards, while still others claim that 

 the silage keeps better if planked and weighted. 



