Tlie Silo and Silage-stack Competition, 1885-8G. 307 
points of successful pressing and an excellent covering to the 
silage. Blocks of concrete or iron, or bags of sand, &c., are 
also used with success, but these require planks or boards over 
the whole surface of the silage, so as to equalise the pressure. 
Yet it was doubtful whether the surface equalisation of pressure 
was so well secured by these weights as by loose soil or sand. 
And further, this board-covering was not nearly so efficient as 
the soil. It was surprising to see how the soil-covering did not 
bring about any waste in the silage. 
The mechanical pressures were often laborious in their 
application and inefficient in their results. The best under 
control — similar to that used in Mr. Morris's silo — was that of 
Mr. Wilson's, at Rigmaden Park. By skilful use of levers, the 
pressure was made to follow the shrinking of the fodder between 
the periodical pressings by means of a hydraulic jack. Hence 
the importance of thoroughly treading the fodder, and especially 
of ramming it near the walls, where the atmosphere is most 
likely to force itself in, and to work the decomposition of the 
fodder by degrees. The golden rule of silage-making is — look 
to the consolidation of the sides, and the centre will look after 
itself. 
(5.) Acid or Sweet Silage'? Chaffed or Unchaffed? — The 
theory of silage-making has been greatly elucidated by the ex- 
periments carried on by Mr. George Fry, F.L.S. To those who 
wish to understand the question, we highly recommend the 
study of Mr. Fry's little book on " Sweet Ensilage." * For the 
purpose of this Report, it is sufficient to point out the physical 
conditions of the fodder while in the silo, that appear to be 
favourable or otherwise to the various fermentations. If we 
refer to Table III. (p. 308) and notice the amount of acidity in 
the crops that are chaffed, and of those that are ensiled un- 
chaffed, we notice the average percentage of acidity in chaffed 
silage to be '27 per cent, of acetic acid, and '72 per cent, of 
lactic acid. 
The greater the depth, and the greater the moisture in the 
crop, other things being equal, the greater will be the tendency 
to produce acid silage, as these conditions would be unfavour- 
able to the development of sufficient temperature to destroy the 
life of germs of ferments present in the fodder. Hence the great 
development of acidity in Mr. Kirby's and Mr. CoUingwood's 
silos. That the great variety in the circumstances attend- 
ing the silage-making given above may not tend to make the 
results obtained as to acidity unsatisfactory, we will give the 
* ' The Theory and Practice of Sweet Ensilas:e,' by George Fry, F.L.S. ; The 
Agricultural Press Co., Clement's Inn Passage, Strand, London, W.O. 
X 2 
