236 THE FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



inside construction must meet the same requirements. 

 Lining a wooden silo with iron has been suggested as 

 practical and economical. Cement is used successfully 

 in the same way. Economy demands that as a preventive 

 against decay the inner woodwork should at least be 

 treated with some preservative, which may also serve the 

 purpose of obviating excessive swelling and shrinking of 

 the lining boards. 



322. Filling the silo. — ^The condition of the crop and 

 the manner of filling a silo determine to a great extent the 

 character of the silage. Obviously it should be so done 

 as to reduce the loss of food compounds to the lowest 

 possible point. Three points are prominently discussed 

 in this connection: (1) the condition of the crops, (2) the 

 preparation of the material, and (3) the rate of filling. 



323. Mature com desirable for silage. — ^Experience 

 has thoroughly demonstrated that the maturity of a 

 crop infiuences its value for silage. This is known to be 

 especially true of the corn crop. An immature corn 

 fodder, which always carries a high percentage of water 

 with less of the matin-ed products, such as starch, is 

 always certain to change to very acid silage. On the 

 contrary, mature corn, when properly handled, is con- 

 verted into a product with the minimum acidity and with 

 an appearance and aroma much superior to that from the 

 immature plant. Neither are satisfactory results secured 

 from material that is overdry. It may be stated in gen- 

 eral terms that the best results are obtained when the 

 proportion of dry matter falls between 25 and 30 per 

 cent. If corn is harvested for the silo after the kernels 

 have begun to glaze, while the leaves are still green and 

 before they show dryness, other conditions being favora- 

 ble, it will meet every requirement for good silage. 



