72 



FARM CROPS 



and less fatiguing and irksome. One man with a 

 low wagon and rack can in a few minutes secure 

 his load, all that a two or three-horse team can 

 draw. It is most convenient to take two or three 

 rows at a time. It is necessary, therefore, that the 

 binder be at work for some time in order that the 

 hauling and cutting crews may not be delayed for 

 want of corn. 



The work in the silo, however, is the most im- 

 portant of all operations connected with silage 

 making. Really good silage depends largely upon 

 the faithfulness, constant tramping and the " ever- 

 lastingly at it " of the man in the silo. Let him 

 shirk, or do his work poorly, and you will get less 

 corn in the silo and less quality in the product. 

 Many of the criticisms directed against the silo 

 belong, not to it, but to the man within, who was 

 either lazy and irresponsible, or who did not know 

 what was expected of him or how to do what was 

 required of him. 



This part of silage making is of such great im- 

 portance that I have found it necessary to look 

 carefully after it myself. If your silage has been 

 of off quality in the past, go into the silo yourself 

 next yeaf and put the " pick-up " help at some 

 other kind of work. 



To thoroughly and continually pack the silage 

 as fast as it falls into the silo and to pitch and 

 tramp it all about the outer edges is the secret of 

 making good silage. Look after the packing well 

 at the outside, then the center will take care of 

 itself. It is this thorough packing that rids the 

 silo of air spaces around which decay later is found 

 to have taken place. 



It is more difficult to pack the square silo. Hence 



