By-Products 165 
on the bottom and sides of the excavation in which the 
tops are to be siloed. To absorb a part of the moisture 
and to make the best use of the straw on the farm, a six- 
inch layer of tops is often alternated with a three-inch 
layer of straw as illustrated in Fig. 26, although the re- 
sults are entirely satisfactory when no straw is used. 
Yy 
LNX YSDYN. 
Fic. 26. — Beet-top silo with alternating layers of tops and straw. 
From three to seven pounds of salt for each ton of silage 
is sometimes added while the silo is being filled. The 
value of this practice is questioned by some feeders. 
When all the tops are in the silo, a layer of straw is spread 
over the top and eight to ten inches of earth thrown over 
this to exclude the air as much as possible. In filling, it 
is essential that each layer be rather firmly packed both 
by the wagon delivering the tops and by a roller or by 
horses led over the tops near the edges. The drier the 
