278 The Silo and Silage-stack Competition, 1885-86. 
not absolutely good for two feet below the surface, and for three feet from the 
ends ; but when the well-preserved silage was reached, it was found to be of 
admirable quality, fragrant in smell, and a perfectly sweet taste. A con- 
siderable proportion was either spoiled or partially spoiled at the sides, on 
account of the unequal pressure, the centre of the silo being higher than the 
sides. In opening, one section of the roof was removed without much diffi- 
culty, and then by releasing one lever on each side, four of the covering- 
boards were taken off, and the silage exposed. The silo is estimated to hold 
sixty tons. What the exact quantity was it is not possible to say, but the 
crop of grass was taken from seven and-a-half acres, mown with a machine at 
a cost of 30s. The carting and delivering cost 36s., filling and treading 39s., 
and weighting 20s. Estimating the cubic contents, however, as in previous 
cases, this silo would hold fifty tons, so that its cost is at the rate of 14s. per 
ton ; and as there were probably forty tons of silage, the cost of mowing and 
making was about 17s. an acre, or 3s. Ihd. a ton. 
Mr. Harris's Silo. — The silo of Mr. W. J. Harris, of Halwill Manor, Devon, 
which was entered for competition (for Mr. Harris has several), was that at 
EUacott Farm, Bratton Clovelly. It is a combination building, covered by a 
span roof 60 feet by 80 feet by 25 feet high. There are six receptacles, or silos, 
excavated in the earth, each being 24 feet by 14 feet, by 14 feet deep. These 
silos, three on either side, are divided by a broad central wall 6 feet in width, and 
by party walls at equal distances, which are 18 inches thick, so that the actual 
silo space is two lengths of 24 feet by 14 feet, or, in all, 4704 cubic feet, 
equivalent in Mr. Harris's opinion to holding GOO tons of silage. The whole 
of the silos can be reached from either end. At one end two apartments are 
entered through doors on each side of the central wall from the bottom of a 
short flight of steps ; whereas at the other end, where the ground is lower, the 
silos are entered from two doors placed in a similar position, and against 
which the waggons can be backed. Other doorways are made in the two 
pairs of partition walls, so that there is regular communication from one end 
to the other. One end of the building is enclosed by means of corrugated 
iron, and the other with wood. The outer walls of the silo are carried to a 
height of some 3 feet, so that they can be filled thus far above the ground. 
When filled and covered with earth or boards, they practically make the 
floor of a covered stack-yard, and this is one of the principal features in 
Mr. Harris's plan, the extensive covered space enabling him to erect six 
hay or corn ricks on the top of the silos, equal in size to the capacity of this 
portion of the building. Indeed, more than this, for the entire length of the 
central wall, 6 feet by 80 feet, can be utilised for this purpose. There is, 
however, another most important feature, for it will be seen that, although 
the width of the silos with the central and outer walls is only 37 fqet, the 
roof is 60 feet. As a matter of fact, this covers an extensive gangway on 
each side llj feet in width. Both gangways are enclosed at the ends by 
gates, and at the sides by five rows of strained wire fixed to the upright posts 
which support the roof. The sides, too, are partially enclosed on the weather 
side by galvanised corrugated iron, a depth of 5 feet of which descends from 
beneath the eaves. There is ample room in these gangways for a number 
of waggon-loads of com to stand, and for cither a herd of cattle or a flock of 
sheep on either side, all of which can be fed with extreme facility from the 
silos. The earth removed in making the silos was 1068 cubic yards, at a 
cost of 50?. The walls, 18 inches thick, are built of stone raised on the 
estate, and finished at the top with 2 feet of brickwork. Their cost was 
150/. The walls, too, are cemented at a cost of 60/. with Portland cement 
mixed with two parts of sharp sand, the corners being slightly rounded. The 
floors are of cement laid upon a bed of broken stones 4 inches in thickness, 
their cost being 20/. The mortar used in the whole of the work was made 
