1921.] 



with cement, but this is not necessary if the soil is very dry. 

 A layer of cement one inch thick on the inside is found to 

 be sufficient; it is not even essential to line the sides at all. 

 In order to lift the soil from the pit, and later, when the silo 

 has been filled, to remove the silage, a hoist or rough wooden 

 crate, with pulley attached, is erected near the mouth of the 

 pit. 



The advantage of this type of silo is that it is inexpensive. 

 There is, however, some danger that human beings or animals 

 may fall into the pit unless a curb of concrete is made 3 ft. 

 or so high around the margin. Where the pit is deep there 

 is also danger of poisonous gases accumulating at the bottom, 

 with the risk of suffocation to the men who descend to remove 

 the silage. A lighted lantern lowered into the pit, however, 

 will serve to indicate whether any poisonous gases are present. 

 If the light goes out it is dangerous to descend, and the air 

 should be agitated to allow a current of pure air to pass to the 

 bottom of the pit. The labour of removing the silage from 

 the pit is not considered to be greater than that involved in 

 elevating the raw material in the case of cylindrical tower silos. 

 The pit silo on Mr. Boggis' farm at Easton is not lined with 

 cement, but is merely a cylindrical excavation of a diameter 

 of about 18 ft. and a depth of 12 ft. Such a pit would obviously 

 fill with water if dug in any but dry soil. There are, how- 

 ever, in this country many sites where soil and sub-soil are 

 very dry, or which are situated near slopes where there is no 

 possibility of water accumulating and where this type of silo 

 might be used. The green material used should be chaffed, 

 and where this is done the silage made in the pit is quite 

 good. Mr. Boggis fed the silage made in his silo to sheep 

 and cattle quite successfully. 



Unused Silos. — There are a number of silos in various parts 

 of the country which were erected 30 or 40 years ago and have 

 fallen into disuse. A farmer who may be fortunate enough 

 to have such a silo on his farm may easily use it to make silage 

 according to modern methods. These old silos are usually 

 rectangular in shape, and not very deep. If, however, they 

 are filled with chaffed green material and the contents are 

 subsequently weighted, excellent silage may be made in them. 

 Such a silo existing on the farm of Mr. Kindred, Pound Farm, 

 Gt. Glemham, was recently filled with a mixture of second 

 crop meadow grass and maize — material which would other- 

 wise have been wasted. This mixture made excellent silage. 



