The Silo and Silage-stack Competition, 1885-86. 281 
not to do it all in one day. The blocks are then laid round the sides, and the 
grass is forced down about 4 feet. They are subsequently lifted to the wall 
again, and the silo filled to about 1 foot above the top. 'i'he blocks are then 
put on a second time, when a pressure of 130 lbs. to the square foot is given 
around the sides only, the centre subsiding almost as much as the sides, 
although entirely without direct pressure. At the second filling a couple of 
waggon-loads of rushes are spread over the surface, the weights are put in 
their places, principally round the sides, and the thing is finished. Pulleys 
have been used for removing the blocks, these being attached to the cross- 
beams above each silo; but it is found that removing by hand is quite as 
expeditious. After each second filling, the silo is allowed to remain for a 
week or ten days, while others are being filled. At the end of this time it has 
sunk at least 4 to 5 feet. The rushes and weights are then removed, and 
about forty more loads of green fodder added, when the entire work is finished 
by covering as before, with the addition of a waggon-load of fresh rushes, on 
the top of which stones and gravel are placed. Where corn-stacks have been 
built upon the silos, faggots have been used as a division between the two, 
but Mr. Harris believes this precaution quite unnecessary, and will not adopt 
it in future. In feeding, Mr. Harris finds that it is necessary to give cattle dry 
food at the beginning of winter before giving silage, as, if the latter is given 
first, the dry food is apt to be neglected, and he does not believe that they do 
so well on silage alone as upon a mixture. Exception, however, may be made 
with regard to yearlings, which thrive quite well upon the silage and the 
grass they get while at liberty. Mr. Harris prefers the sweeter kind of silage, 
and although in the first instance the taste of his milk was affected, this has 
entirely gone. Oat silage is never found to give any taste whatever. It will 
be noticed by those who have studied silos for some time that the Ellacott 
silo somewhat resembles that of the Vicomte de Chezelles in Normandy, which 
has been frequently described, and which was visited by a number of EnglisK 
agriculturists at the beginning of the silo movement. Mr. Harris has, how- 
ever, improved upon this, and declares that he formulated his own plan from 
studying that of the French nobleman above mentioned. He says that it 
will pay him splendidly, and his idea is to charge 2>0l. in his balance-sheet 
for capital invested, 15?. of which will be for silo rent, and 15Z. for the rent of 
the covered yard, which is large enough not only to cover the hay or com 
upon a good-sized farm, but almost the whole of the stock and implements 
possessed by the majority of farmers at the present time. It may be added 
that the span roof is supported by posts cut from oak grown on the estate. 
There are nine on each side of the gangway supporting the eaves, nine in the 
centre of the 6-feet way supporting the ridge, and five on each side of the silo 
walls. The work was done by Mr. M. White, of Halwill, who has exhibited 
considerable ingenuity in the construction of the roof. It may be noted, also, 
that in addition to the advantages referred to above, there is great facility for 
filling, as the waggons can be drawn up by the side of each silo, if necessary, 
to the extent of half-a-dozen at a time. Ilie silos can be emptied from the 
top in every case, and from the bottom at both ends, and directly into a cart 
at the south end. The weights can be moved from one silo to the other 
with great rapidity, there being an objection to the stacking of corn upon 
silage, which might be wanted before the corn was threshed. Mr. Harris 
explained that he principally grows oats, and threshes these before he requires 
to use his silage. He also uses his hay at the same time as the silage, so 
that he can always have silage uncovered to a greater extent than that 
required for a month's consumption. He calculates that he efiects a saving 
of nearly 201. per annum by no longer requiring to thatch his corn and hay- 
stacks. The side sheds or gangways are, moreover, necessary for the shelter 
of the sheep in very rough weather, and for the protection of a steam-engine 
