at Home and Abroad. 
171 
aliout one-third hay and two-thirds oat-straw cut up into about J-inch 
lengths. We could" not tell but what the stock did quite as well on the 
silage as the other food. All have been equally healthy ; no purging, nor 
21. Mr. I. K. Edicards, of Westminster Lod</e, St Albans*: — Three years 
ago I laid down 30 acres of arable land with grass seeds. The crop this year 
was very poor, not more than one load to the acre, and almost entirely bents, 
there being verj- little undergrass. 
In the year 1882 I erected two pits for storing grains, and filled them last 
year with 100 tons of grains, which came out first-rate ; this year, w ishing to 
be in the fashion, I re-named the said grain pits, and they are now called silos. 
The two silos are made c f bricks, cemented inside and roofed with galvanised 
iron, and they cost a few shillings under 50?. I enclose a section, which will 
Fig. 1. — Section of Mr. Edtcards's Silos, showing their sloping sides. 
give the size, &c. They drain into a small cesspit outside. One silo would 
therefore cost 25Z., and this amount, to be repaid within twenty-five years 
by equal annual payments of principal and interest at 5 per cent., would incur 
au annual payment of 1?. 15s. 3c?. 
I decided this year to fill one of the silos with the above-mentioned 
grass, and accordingly 1 commenced cutting on the 14th of Ji:ne, with two 
mowing-machines, and on the 15th of June the grass was carted and cut 
into chaff by a steam-engine. The work was commenced at 9.30 a.m., but, 
in consequence of a severe storm, the machine was stopped at 11.30 a.m., the silo 
being not quite half full ; the 16th was wet all day, and therefore the machine 
was not started ; the 17th was Sunday ; and on the Monday, the 18tb, the 
machine commenced at 9.30 a.m., and the silo was completely filled b}- 2 p.m. 
Twenty-three men were engaged both on the 15th and 18th, as follows : — 
4 men treading silo. 
7 „ filling sacks and carrying to pit (about 10 yards). 
1 „ unloading the cart. 
2 „ feeding chafi"-machine. 
1 „ engine-driver. 
1 „ waterman. 
7 „ loading carts and dragging. 
J!'-^/ cfrvfre.i rmV.t 
Comig.tted Jrc>i. 
Total 23 men. 
* Thia account of Mr. Edwards's practi?e is reprinted from the 'Live Stock 
Journal ' of July 30th, 1SS3. 
