1050 



Pit, Trench aud other Silos. 



[Feb., 



to avoid making good silage The sides of the pit 



were almost perpendicular; the slopes at each end about 1 in 6. 

 This allowed the green stuff to be carted in at one end, and the 

 teams to go out at the other. The long roadway slopes also 

 allow the ensilage to be conveniently carted out. Each 

 succeeding load is carted in and thrown off, the carts passing 

 over the previous loads, and giving the necessary pressure 

 required to exclude air. When the pit is full the stuff can be 

 arched up G or 8 ft., the carts going over in the same way. 



Cross section ot Trench Silo. 



Then leave a few days, when it will be found the height will be 

 perhaps 3 or 4 ft. less, through settling down; then build up 

 again, and scoop earth on top, say 2 ft. deep; plough a furrow 

 round to carry off influx of water, and you have first-class 

 ensilage, good for 20 years to come. If the pit bottom is 

 clay, I should advise a shaft a few feet deep, to carry off any 

 extra soakage. I used one layer of saplings along the flat 

 bottom, but as the soil was loamy right through, I doubt if 

 even this was necessary. 



" The above seems simple enough, and I never used a 

 thermometer, and have only a hazy idea as to sweet, sour, 

 acid, sub-acid ensilage; what I do know is that, wherever 

 exhibited — Royal Show, or elsewhere — the silage so made has 

 nearly always taken first prize. 



" T have often been asked if heavy rain falling as a pit is 

 being filled is harmful, and I have never found it so. I know 



