The Silo and Silage-stack Competition, 1885-8G. 
283 
or, estimating the silo to hold 105 to 110 tons, considerably less than V. 
a ton. The crop preserved was grass cut from fifteen acres which would have 
made two tons of hay per acre. It was got dry, although a little rain fell, 
and was not chaffed. When the filling was completed, a layer of nettles and 
other green rubbish was spread over the top; and the covering-boards, 12 feet 
by 2 feet, which did not fit close, were put on crossways. Over these, length- 
ways, the pressure-beams were fi.^ed. These ran the whole length of the 
silo, and were composed of two pieces of timber, each 3 inches by 11 inches, 
fixed together by two smaller pieces of wood between them. At each end of 
the beams are the cog-wheels over which the chains pass. These chains, two 
to each beam, pass from the bottom up the walls of the silo over the wheels, 
which rest in iron chairs, to the centre of the beams, where they are screwed 
together, and the pressure exerted. When necessary, the beams are hoisted 
above the silo by means of pulleys attached to the roof. The filling of the 
silos extended over a fortnight, Mr. Fry's system having been adopted. The 
temperature varied considerably. On the 30th of June, soon after filling, it 
was 135 degrees, and on the 6th of July 135, but it had risen to 170 before 
the pressure was at work. This was the maximum temperature, but at the 
time of opening, in our presence, it w^as only 100 degrees. The silage near 
the door, when opened, was found to be very black, and resembled heated hay 
in its perfume. The top layer, however, was light in colour, and its smell 
very unlike ordinary silage, although by no means disagreeable. A hole was 
cut from the top of the silo, the quantity spoiled being rather considerable at 
the sides, where pressure did not seem to be exerted ; indeed, in many cases 
it was apparent that the centre would have practically taken care of itself, if 
the sides had been properly pressed. At Clapton, however, the pressure was 
principally across the right and left centre, but deficient at both sides and 
ends, the beams not being able to adapt themselves to the inequalities of the 
surface. 
Lord Wolvertoii's Silos. — Two silos were entered by Lord Wolverton, one 
known as the Church Hill, and the other as the Hill Bam. The former is an 
entirely new structure, 62 feet long by 12 feet wide, and 18 feet high. It is 
an excavation on the side of a hill, the eaves of the roof being slightly above 
the level of the ground upon the one side. There are three compartments 
made by two partition walls, each of the former being 20 feet long. Openings 
are provided in the roof of each compartment to facilitate the operation of 
filling, whereas emptying is conducted by a door in the south end and 
an opening in each partition wall. The total expense was 280^. 8s. 3c?. Ex- 
cavating 540 yards cost 18/. 4s. Qd. Three walls are of cement-concrete 
12 inches thick ; the south wall is of brick 9 inches thick ; and the partition 
walls, which are also concrete, are 12 inches thick. The cost of these walls 
was 147/. Is. 8d. The cement and sand used for facing the interior cost 
.31?. 14s. lid. The floor, which is of 6- inch cement-concrete covered with 1-inch 
cement, cost 19/. 4s. 3d. Drain-pipes are laid round the outer walls, at a cost 
of 3/. 9s. The roof is of a light frame-work of deal, covered with galvanised 
corrugated iron. This item cost 42/. 7s. Id. The doors in the roof are pro- 
vided with hinges and padlocks, and open next to the road, so that the carts 
can come up close for filling. In No. 1 division the silage consisted of maize 
and the skimmings of a water meadow, the maize being chaffed. Mowing tho 
crop cost 1/. 10s., carting, 4/. 3s. Gd., and filling, 17s. This silo was covered 
with Stock's screw press, costing 18/. The covering-planks used were 8 inches 
by 1^ inches, these being placed crossways. Over them were four beams, 
3 inches by 7 inches, laid the reverse way ; and again on the top of the beams 
were two pressure-beams, 7 by Bj, laid crossways, at about the right and left 
centre of the silo. It is through the centre of each of these two beams that 
the screw passes. Upon opening, it was found that the pressure had not been 
