The Silo and Silage-stack Competition, 1885-86. 273 
is necessary to press the beam down, a second bolt is placed througb the 
holes in the upright 18 to 20 inches above, and by means of an iron arm, one 
end of which is attached to it, and tlie other to the top of the screw-jack, a 
siifiicient purchase is obtained to enable the jack to work. When the beam 
has been sufficiently screwed down, it is fixed into its place by passing another 
bolt through the upright, and the jack is removed to the other side, which is 
screwed down in the same way. The planks used beneath the pressure- 
beams are 12 inches by 2\ inches. When the silo is opened, the beams are 
run up overhead, and fixed by the bolts as when under pressure, and are 
quite out of the way. The covering-planks in the centre of each divi.-^ion of 
the silo are cut in half, exactly mider the centre-pressure beam, enabling 
the men to cut out silage without uncovering more than a small portion. 
Mr. Morris designed a simple system of continuous pressure, which was shown 
to us, but was not in use, as it was not found necessaiy. This was in the 
form of an ash-lever, fixed in each end of the pressure-beam, with a fulcrum 
beneath. Upon the other end was a ring for the suspension of weights. 
Curiously enough, this system is similar to that adopted by Mr. Christopher 
Wilson, of Eigmaden Park, who presses his silo in a like manner to Mr. Morris, 
using, however, a hydraulic jack instead of a screw-jack. The back of the 
super-silo and one end are boarded in between the brick-pillars, and as, when 
not in use, the covering planks can be laid across the pressure-beams at 
any height, it is quite evident that a covered apartment, with a sound dry 
floor, can be provided for almost any purpose — for storing hay, straw, or roots, 
mixing food, sheltering implements, or, as Mr. Morris jocularly remarked, for 
dancing, when either of his young people get married. The silos beneath, 
too, being so easily approached from the sloping road, can be used for storing 
any kind of farm material or produce, or even converted into compartments 
for stock. The arrangements outside the silo are equally practical, for, 
although it is an excavation, it appears to stand upon a bank, which, how- 
ever, has been artificially made, and which is considerably higher than the 
j'ard in which it stands. There is, nevertheless, a sensible object in this, for, 
when the carts of fodder arrive, they gradually ascend the bank at one end 
(and it should be mentioned that it is railed all round), deliver their contents, 
and descend down the slope at the other end, passing over the arched road 
beneath. When the silo is being filled with chaffed silage, and the engine is 
placed at the entrance to this sloping road, the driving-bands are carried to a 
pulley, fixed upon a shaft under the arch to the right, while a pulley on the 
■same shaft to the left draws a large siiage-chaffcutter standing above by the 
side of the silo. A more complete arrangement than this we have never seen, 
for it enables the men to fill with the utmost speed, and, as platforms are 
easily made by means of the trusses and planks placed at any height, the 
chaff is delivered into either compartment at will. 
In two divisions of the silo were green oats and grass, the latter being at 
the top, while in the third division was a second crop of rye-grass and 
clover. Two days were required to fill each compartment, and each contained 
about 25 tons. The temperature 7 feet below the surface of the centre 
was 90 degrees. Upon removing the covering boards the clover and rye- 
grass (which was cut wet) were found to be very perfect, although at the top 
there was a small quantity of white mould. 1'he sides, however, were not so 
good, waste extending from 3 to 4 inches, and still more at the corners, 
which would have been better if rounded, and which were evidently not 
sufficiently trodden. The temperature of the grass was 88 degrees. When 
cut, it was ripe and dry, but of only moderate quality, containing a quantity of 
IIolcus lanatus. In colour it was a lightish yellow, but, like the clover, 
smelt sweet and rich. The oats were about 4 feet in the straw and in ear. 
They also smelt most agreeable and tasted sweet. The treadiag is per- 
VOL. XXII. — S. S. T 
