156 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
No. 1 silo was filled and pressed down as follows : — 
Sept. 15tb. — 14 loads of clover and rye-grass filled it to the 
top, and it was then left to subside. 
„ 18th.— 10 do. do. do. 
„ 22nd.— 4 do. do. do. 
„ 26th.— () do. do. do. 
„ 28th.— 4 do. do. do. 
„ 29th.— 2 do. do. do. 
40 loads. 
Between the dates No. 2 silo was filled with 40 loads in the same manner. 
The clover and rye-grass was carted to the silos immediately after it had been 
cut. The cost in wages of cutting, carting, raking, filling, covering, and 
weighting was 4s. ^^d. yev load. The whole of the clover and rye-grass 
was cut and put into the silos when the weather was fine, except one day, 
when it was showery. 
On September 29th, a layer of dry straw, about three inches in thickness, 
was spread on the top of the clover in each silo. The straw was then covered 
with boards, and about 15 tons of stone were placed on tlie top of each silo. 
During the intervals of filling, each silo, when left to subside, was covered 
with boards and weighted with about 5 tons of stone. The silage gradu- 
ally subsided, and at the expiration of 14 days it had sunk in each pic from 
9 feet in depth to an average depth of 6 feet 9 inches. At this time it 
was evident that the old hay at the bottom of each silo was not absorbing 
ail the liquid which drained from the silage, and then the plugs in the lead 
pipes wei'e withdrawn and about 40 gallons of liquid extracted from eacli silo. 
The liquid has been drawn off daily since then, but the quantity gradually 
lessened, and at the date of this memorandum very little drains off. There has 
been no further subsidence in either of the silos since the 13th of October. 
On tlie 29th of October No. 1 silo was opened, and the quality found to be 
good. Forty-two head of cattle (milch cows, in-calf heil'ers, feeding stock, 
and stirks) are consuming it, and all doing well. It is estimated that each 
silo will contain 30 tons of silage fit for use, besides the liquid. 
The following analyses were prepared by Mr. Ralph Betley, the public 
analyst to the borough of Wigan. The samples of clover-hay and silage 
which were analysed were both grown on the same field this year, the hay 
being the first crop, cut at the end of June, and the silage the second 
•crop, cut-in September, 
Dried at 212° F. 
Hay. Silage. 
•Albuminoid substances soluble in water .. 2 '87 7 "55 
t Ditto ditto insoluble in ditto .. 7-83 4-89 
Sugar, gum, and extractive matters .. .. 47 "31 53 "44 
Fatty matters, chlorophyl, &c 2-96 3-11 
Indigestible woody fibre 32-84 22-16 
Mineral matter soluble 2-51 5*71 
Ditto insoluble 3-68 3-14: 
100-00 100-00 
'Coutaininfc nitrogen 0-46 1-21 
t Ditto 1-25 0-75 
Repokt. 
"The hay had all the characteristics of good clover and rye-grass l ay ; 
t^ie siLage was much darker in colour than the liay, and was very odoriferous, 
having a faintly acid smell, accompanied by a very persistent smell of esseu- 
