ENSILAGE AND TEMPORARY SILOS. 83 
if we can be of any assistance to him, the knowledge that we 
have done so will be of itself a sufficient reward. 
During the past ten years we have watched with interest the 
‘development of this question of silos and ensilage, and we 
have to the best of our ability endeavoured to reap a practical 
advantage from that observation. We have investigated the 
various systems from time to time introduced on farms and 
estates where no small sums have been invested on more 
or less elaborate methods of ensilage making. With all costly 
appliances we have been dissatished. There has always been 
some great drawback, generally the item of the # s. d., and 
we have never been convinced that interest has been secured 
‘on the capital invested. In this desponding frame of mind we 
had abandoned all idea of turning silos to practical account, 
when we heard of yet another plan, the originator of which was 
most hopeful of success, and enthusiastic in the carrying out of 
his scheme. With little expectation we waited our opportunity 
and visited him. He received us with welcome, the volubility 
with which he propounded the gros and cons of his new-found 
joy amused us, such was no new experience, and we had no 
faith whatever in his argument. But he was a most persistent 
advocate, and at last he awakened our almost dormant interest. 
We proceeded to the scene of his operations, and we were 
astonished. 
The idea was simple, inexpensive, and efficient. 
There was no building, no plant, no machinery. <A 
temporary silo was before us which answered all require- 
ments, with a further advantage—there was very little waste. 
At first sight we thought we were gazing upon an ordinary 
“‘muck-heap,” but a closer observation undeceived us. It 
‘was made as follows :— 
A plot of ground had been selected where the water had a 
fall, and was easily drained away. The sub-soil was sand and 
gravel, and the expressed juices drained away spontaneously 
