262 Tlie Silo and Silage-stack Competition, 1885-86. 
visits. The silos are specified below in the order of time as to 
inspection and not as to merit. 
(1) The Duke of Manchester, K.P., Model Farm, St. Neois. — This silo is 
not a new structure, but is an adaptation from a pre-existing building. The 
dimensions are 24 feet by 19 feet by 22 feet deep — givicg a capacity of 10,032 
cubic feet, the cost of adaptation being at the rate of 3s. per 50 cubic feet, or a 
total cost of 30?. The silage consisted of a mixture of two-thirds tares and one- 
third oats — grown together. The management of silage-making on this farm 
was very judicious and successful. The filling would be expensive, but the 
emptying was convenient and economical. The fodder was pressed by means 
of bags of gravel upon boards. When opened, both at the top and at the 
floor level, the silage was found to be of good quality, but of decidedly acid 
properties. There was not much waste either at the surface or in contact 
with the walls. 
(2) Mr. James Hotvard, Clapham Park, Bedford. — Mr. Howard's silo is a 
new structure, 12 feet by 12 feet by 17 feet deep. The brickwork cost 42?., and 
the roof 28?., making the total cost 70?. The walls are made of bricks, edge-laid 
with cement, with a drain at the foundation. No drainage, however, left the 
silage during the past season. The arrangements for filling and emptying are 
admirable — the silo being built in the side of a bank. The system of silage- 
making here differs materially from that adopted by the other competitors. 
Mr. Howard applies no pressure but that of the fodder's own weight, and that 
of the men treading, spreading, and ramming the green stuff while the silo i& 
being filled. When required, the roof is made to descend by mechanical 
means, its four edges entering a small trough, which makes the last course of 
bricks on the silo walls. The trough is filled with two or three inches 
of water, thereby forming a hydraulic joint, between the air in the silo and 
the outside atmosphere. This roof — or lid — costs 35s. per square yard of silo 
surface covered. 
The produce of li acres of maize was cut, carried, chaffed, and ensiled ou 
the 16th and 22nd of September, while on the 17th, 18th, and 21st of 
September a very light second crop of clover was cut, carried — but not chaffed 
— and ensiled. The silage would be in three layers, maize at the top and 
bottom, with clover between. The maize would yield about 15 to 20 tons of 
green stuff per acre, while the clover in the green state would not average more 
than 2 tons to the acre. The maize remained in swathe from two to four 
days ; but the clover was ensiled immediately after being cut. The weather 
Avas damp during cutting, and fine while carting — excepting the last days of 
carting maize. Two men and three boys were engaged in spreading, treading, 
and ramming the fodder in the silo. 
Mr. Howard's silo was opened on the 11th of November by the Judges, after 
having remained closed for 40 days, which is a short period for silage-ripening, 
if the word may be allowed. The roof was lifted easily by two men working 
the hauling apparatus. The inner side of the roof was found to be covered 
with moisture, the result of the condensation of the vapours given off by the 
fodder undergoing fermentation. The maize silage on the surface was found 
to be saturated with water for about 6 inches in depth, while at the silo angle 
appeared a little pipe-like fungoid growth 6 or 8 ioches long. The emptying 
door of the silo was also opened to examine the lowest layers of silage. The 
clover-silage was excellent in every point, and without any waste even in 
contact with the bricks used to make the door air-tight. The maize-silage 
was not so successful. For further particulars as to this system of silage- 
making, see remarks under " Adjudication " (p. 301). 
(3) Mr. Henry Arthur Brassey, Preston Hall, Aylesford. — Mr. Brassey's 
silo is a new structure, consisting of three compartments, each 32 feet long, 
