1920.] 



Preserving Green Fodder. 



67 



all, but the days were not consecutive. The work commenced 

 on a Monday, was continued on Tuesday and was then 

 resumed on Friday and again on the following Monday. 

 This gave time for the mass to settle somewhat before the 

 final tilling. A seven-acre crop of clover wa-> put into the 

 trench, and the heap was then topped up as well as possible 

 with green clover and finally with rough stuff from hedge 

 bottoms. Afterwards, as soon as the operation could be 

 carried out, it was covered with earth, when it resembled a 

 mangold pit. It may be mentioned that the heap was made 

 as high as it conveniently could be by carting full loads up 

 the ends, being subsequently topped up by hand. 



The material was put in on the day of cutting, and owing to 

 heavy dews was often very moist in the early part of the day. 

 This pit was opened about Christmas, and a sample was taken 

 for analysis. It was found that the rainwater had penetrated 

 to a depth of two or three inches, causing the material to rot 

 to that depth, while a certain amount of the silage on the sides 

 and ends had also become rotten. Apart from this the bulk 

 of the silage proved of excellent quality, and was relished by 

 the stock, which left good hay to eat it as soon as they became 

 accustomed to it. Being in its long state it was cut out in 

 sections exactly as is done with hay, and carted to the stock. 

 It was used regularly during January and February, being fed 

 mainly to milk cows and store cattle. The quantity fed 

 was one cart-load a day, and the heap lasted for 69 days. 



It is very difficult to estimate the proportion of waste 

 on the sides and top of the heap ; in fact this could only 

 be done by weighing every cart-load of good and spoiled 

 material taken out of the silo. There was practically no spoiled 

 material on the bottom, although the green clover was placed 

 directly upon the bare earth. The only serious amount of 

 waste was on the top of the heap ; this was thought to be caused 

 by the rainwater soaking through the earth covering. This could 

 be prevented by roughly thatching the heap with straw 

 " battens " or straight bundles on the top of the earth covering. 

 It appears best roughly to thatch on the outside of the earth 

 rather than inside, as the main object of the earth is to keep 

 out the air, and if the thatch were placed inside the earth 

 a layer of air would come in contact with the silage. 



This method of making silage, although admittedly less 

 perfect than the cylindrical silo method, has the great advantage 

 that no heavy initial expenditure on buildings or on chaffing 

 and blowing machinery is involved. It appears eminently 



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