150 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
necessary for me to add any remarks. I visited Mr. Kenyon 
on January 18th, and found that, in consequence of having lived 
formerly in the United States, he had been one of the first to 
adopt the system of ensilage in England, or, I ought to say, in 
Wales. In the wild hilly part of the country where Mr. Kenyon 
lives, the climate is very trying for the harvesting of either 
grass or grain, and therefore to be practically independent of 
sunshine is the height of happiness to farmers living in such a 
district. Mr. Kenyon estimates his pressure at only 70 lbs. to 
the square foot, and certainly the quality of his silage did not 
suggest to me that it was insufficient, although a sample sent 
me went rapidly mouldy on exposure to the air. The depth of 
the silo is temporarily increased by boards which fit into grooves, 
in the pillars carrying the roof of the silo. These can be 
removed when the grass sinks to the level of the permanent walls. 
When the " Dutch Barn " is not used for storing hay, a certain 
quantity of bracken or other coarse fern is thrown over the 
stones with which the silo is weighted, so as to soak up any 
rain that may be drifted in. Mr. Kenyon grows gorse largely 
as a fodder-crop, sowing from 20 to 30 lbs. of seed per acre, 
and chopping the plant into one-eighth inch lengths before 
giving it to his live-stock. 
7. Mr. T. Kirhy, Hook Farm, Bromley, Kent. — My silo is 27 feet long, 8 fee* 
wide, and 12 feet deep, being 6 feet above the level of the soil, and 6 feet 
below. It is built with 14-inch brickwork, and cement and sand in the pro- 
portions of three to one, and is roofed with galvanized iron. It first cost was 
30?., and I expect it to last thirty years. It was filled in May with ordinary 
pasture grass in a ripe state, and put in whole without any admixture of salt 
or other substance in the course of five days at two intervals. The grass 
was covered by a layer of straw 3 inches thick, then by 2J-inch deal boards, 
and 20 tons of stones. The weight of the pitted material was 50 tons, and 
that of the preserved material 49 tons. The cost of filling the silo was 
^:s. per ton, for mowing, cartiog to the silo, treading, compressing, &c. The 
silo was opened in August ; the weights were taken off, deals removed, and 
then the straw (two men's time half a day each). The pitted fodder is taken 
off in layers about one inch per day, the average weight per inch being 
one cwt. I am satisfied that this method of pitting gra.ss provides a cheap 
aud useful fodder for cows. If the pitted fodder is taken off by degrees, a 
pit could be left open for six months, provided that a little is taken off the 
top every few days ; but if left for 5 or 6 days it will begin to turn mouldy 
on the top, owing, in my opinion, to its not having been kept sufficiently 
air-tight and properly compressed. I do not consider the pitted fodder 
good enough for stock without some artificial food. — October '20th, 1883. 
Mr. Kirby has since informed me that he is building some 
large silos, and expects to be busy filling them in May. He 
then proposes to keep an accurate account of all the expenses 
incurred. 
