152 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
I visited this silo on the day when the above memorandum 
was prepared for me, and found the silage very good indeed. 
9. Mr. J. W. Lowe, CJiapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire. — My silo is 27 feet long, 
17 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, and is above the level of the soil, the floor 
being part of the barn floor. It consists of the original stone walls of the 
barn, which were made of rubble stone. They have been made level and 
vertically straight by chisels and picks, and afterwards coated with cement ; 
the first coat of cement plaster heins rather coarse, and not containing so 
much cement as the finishing coat. Total thickness of cement lining, 1 inch. 
The total cost was about 50?. exclusive of pig-iron. The silo was filled in 
July last with meadow grass put in whole, no other substance being mixed 
with it. 
The silo was continually open about three weeks whilst haymaking was going 
on. The grass was cut with the object of making hay, and if the weather per- 
mitted, hay was made. If the weather appeared likely to be unfavourable, 
the cut grass was taken to the silo. In any event, a few cartloads of grass 
were put into the silo daily. Xo covering, or weights, or pressure of any 
kind was used until the silo was finally covered. The fodder was eventually 
covered and compressed by means of 4-inch-tliick planks, on the top of which 
pig-iron was placed at the rate of 130 lbs. to the superficial foot. I don't 
know anything about the weight of the grass put into or taken out of the 
silo. The iron weights cost me 4Ts. a ton delivered at Chapel-en-le-Frith. 
It is of the quality known as No. 3 Derbyshire pig-iron. I had 34 tons. 
I used the extra labour engaged for haymaking, and the men would have had 
to have been paid their wages, haymaking or not. Under these circumstances, 
I consider that I had little or no extra expense for manual labour. 
The silo is emptied by cutting vertically, like hay in a stack. The cattle 
eat the pitted fodder most readily, in fact, preferring it to the hay in their 
racks. The iood has been praised by all practical men that I have shown 
it to, and personally I am well satisfied. This year I purpose chopping the 
grass before putting it into the silo, as I think a greater weight can thus 
be obtained, and the silage when taken out will be handier for mixing with 
other foods. 
I am 1200 feet above the sea-level. Haymaking in this district is always 
a month later than in most places, and we can very seldom commence to lead 
before 2 p.m., owing to the heavy dews and mists. 
I have no drain from, or cesspool in the floor of the silo. I don't think 
either is necessary. TIjc former might have a tendency to admit air into the 
pitted fodder, which must always be avoided. 
I don't think it at all necessarj^ or desirable to use salt, or to put a layer of 
bran, chaff, or any other similar substance ou the top of the pitted Ibdder 
before covering it with the boards and weights. I used chopped hay for a 
covering last year, but intend not to use anything this. 1 Lave no waste 
from mould or any other cause.— t/«;i war!/ IQth, 1884. 
10. Mr. Arthur J. Scott, liotherJieM Park, Alton, Hants. — I have been 
experimenting for eight years. My three silos may be described as follows : 
No. 1, 10 feet long, 13 feet wide, and 12 feet deep; it is an oval dug in the 
ground, wliich consists of a clay soil upon chalk ; it is entirely below the 
level of the ground, and is lined inside with Portland cement. Nos. 2 and 3 
are each about 11 leet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet deep; they are partly 
above and partly below the ground, and are made out of cattle-feeding jiits, 
the sides bein^ t)f brick. All are roofed. 1 have made several experiments 
with unroofed silos, but I do not recommend them for England, as there is 
too much raiuiall in the winter here. iso. 1 silo cost about 5?., and is 
