44 FORAGE CROPS 
SUMMER SILAGE 
In considering the question of feeding of cattle 
throughout the year with succulent food, the sum- 
mer silo must be included. There is no doubt but 
that in many instances, and for many conditions, 
the summer silo would meet all the requirements 
of the dairy farmer for this particular form of 
food. The advantages of the silo are, chiefly, a 
saving of labor in the season when it is specially 
needed for other work, and providing a uniform 
food supply without regard to the character of the 
season. 
Whether the use of the summer silo will result 
in materially reducing the cost of the ration, 
is a question that will have to be determined by 
the actual conditions on a particular farm. To 
judge from the reports on cost of silage, there 
would undoubtedly be a saving in actual cost of 
food, providing the silos were so constructed as to 
result in a minimum loss of dry matter. It must be 
remembered, however, that in the construction of 
a silo for summer use the surface areas of the 
silo should be less per animal than for winter 
silage, owing to the more rapid fermentation 
of the silage in hot weather. At least double the 
depth, or about four inches, should be removed 
daily, instead of two inches, as in the case of 
winter silage. 
