158 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
19 feet deep, and one 13 feet square by 15 feet deep. Some of them are 
above the level of the ground, and some partly above and partly below. They 
are all concreted stone hay-barns, constructed of stone and mortar walls, and 
jJastered with Portland cement, mixed with sand in the proportions of about 
two of sand to one of cement, and finally whitewashed over with cement. The 
floors are of concrete, coated in the same way with cement. They have per- 
manent slate roofs. I have not tried any without a permanent roof. 
The first two cost about 50^. to convert, the second about 20Z., the third about 
10?. I expect them to last as long as any ordinary farm-buildings. They 
were filled in the latter part of July and the beginning of August with per- 
manent meadow grass, cut just before it became ripe, or when it was in the 
best condition for making good hay. It is pitted unchopped, as it seems 
to be quite unnecessary to chop the finer grasses. I do not mix any other 
material with the grass, and do not think salt would tend to improve the pre- 
servation. Straw, I think, unless mixed with a very wet or succulent crop, 
would tend to increase the heating, or perhaps cause mould. The silos are 
filled generally at intervals, sometimes two or three days in succession ; but 
without weighting each night, allowing the grass put in each day to press 
that previously put in. For instance, I fill the silo perhaps half full one 
day, leaving it all night, and the next day fill it about full. It will perhaps 
sink a little by next morning, when I would fill it up again and put the 
weights on. After it has stood a week or two it will have sunk about half- 
way down, when it can be again filled up. I do not know that there is any other 
advantage in this except economising space. I have filled silos to the top in 
one day and weighted them, and the preservation seems to be quite as good 
as when filled at intervals. When filled at long intervals there are dark 
divisional lines between each filling. The fodder is weighted with loose 
stones laid on a covering of 1-inch boards in three of my silos ; in one I have 
used a mechanical arrangement which has answered fairly well. I am not 
able to tell the exact amount of pressure I applied. It was continued until 
the silage was pressed as solid as it would go. I prefer the mechanical pres- 
sure, on account of the quickness of application and the smaller amount of 
labour it requires in comparison with dead-weights. I had no facilities for 
weighing the large amount of grass that I pitted last year. 
The expense of filling the silo varies according to circumstances, from about 
Cs. to perhaps 15s. or 11. per acre, or Is. to 2s. Qd. per ton ; but I have not 
kept an- accurate account, as we were generally making hay at the same 
time that we were pitting grass. The cost of emptying is a little more ex- 
pensive than feeding hay, though not much, on account of the greater weight ; 
and it will vary according to the manner of feeding and the distance it is to 
carry. I cut it down vertically like a hay-stack, so far, but am going to try 
taking it off the top in the next silo I open. 
The advantages of ensilage are a complete independence of the weather in 
harvesting the fodder crops ; an always certain and reliable food, more nutri- 
tious than hay, and capable (jf feeding about 30 per cent, more stock than the 
.'^ame grass would if made into hay, and on the whole a saving iu labour. 
The more succulent or wet the crop, the Icvss will be the heating during 
fermentation; there is more exudation of juice, and the resulting silage is 
perhaps a little darker in colour than that made from a drier material. 
Silage made from a dry crop, I believe, smells rather more like hay. 
The use of the contents of a silo may be extended over a wliole winter 
without deterioration to the sihige, provided no surface is left exposed to the 
air for long, and the weight be kept on that part not being used. I have not 
seen an instance where i)itted fodder would not keep a few days ; but if such 
cases occur, I should think it is owing to mismanagement of some kind. 
Perhaps the weights are taken off the whole bulk of the fodder at once, iu 
