darhirj the Wet Season of 1888. 
285 
main free for public use. Accordingly, where stacks were 
built iu the hurry of 1888, resource was made iu most cases to 
one of the above systems, all of which had the well-earned cha- 
racter of having been previously successfully employed. Here, 
by the way, it should be recorded that various experimenters, 
who did not know of the above systems, worked out similar 
methods for themselves independently, from that common 
mechanical knowledge which all farmers should, and many do 
possess. When, however, they Avished to extend their own 
plans and sell them to neighbours, they found the field already 
occupied by patentees. 
The " sweet simplicity " of making good ensilage in a silo 
where dead-weights are employed, and where the product should 
neither be sour nor sweet, is somewhat sacrificed when ensilage 
is made in stacks, where it appears desirable to control the 
temperature by regulating pressure in order that sweet ensilage 
be produced. But even this result is attained very easily when 
either of the above-named systems is employed, as will be 
told in the detailed narrative made up from correspondents' 
reports, in the pamphlet about to be issued. Novices may have 
plans of their own, and may carry them out successfully ; but, 
since they can hardly be less costly in labour and materials, 
and only slight modifications of those patent systems already 
existing, beginners will do well to adopt known methods. The 
above remark applies especially to making ensilage in stacks. 
Where a silo exists the non-patented dead-weights of simple 
earth, bricks, stones in boxes, railway, iron, &c., are still much 
in use with those who have employed them for years, who find 
them perfectly effectual, and who keep the belief that they are 
cheaper than most mechanical methods. 
The answers given to the questions in the schedule issued to 
correspondents assert conclusively that 
1. Many farmers last season did adopt exceptionally the 
ensilage stack system as an alternative to hay-making, which the 
weather had rendered impossible. 
2. That they employed commonly the special systems above 
mentioned ; and although, in the hurry of the wet season, they 
did not often make reliable estimates of costs, these seem to have 
ranged from 10^. to 201. 
o. The periods of making these ensilage stacks extended 
from mid-July onwards, until in October aftermath was used. 
The work of making was interrupted by various circumstances 
(such as fine weather occasionally allowing of hay-making), and 
much of the ensiled crops consisted of the damaged leavings of 
the hay-making attempts. 
