174 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
Silo Haymaking 
per Acre. per Acre. 
S. d. S. d. 
Horses cliarged at 6(i. per hour while at work mowiiio;,) ^ „ -to 
per acre ) 
Carting, dragging, and using elevator for hay, per acre 14 2 10 
3 0 4 6 
The Weather during the Period. 
June 14, 18b3. Fine all daj\ 
„ 15 „ Dull ; began to rain at 10.30 a.m. A storm at 11.30 a.m. 
„ IG „ Showers all day. 
„ 17 „ Slight showers at intervals. 
„ 18 „ Dull, but no rain. 
„ 19 „ Ditto. 
„ 20 „ Fine up till 11 a.m. ; then showers all day. 
„ 21 „ Showers all daj'. 
„ 22 „ Fine up to 3 p.m., and then rain for rest of day. 
„ 23 „ Fine all day. 
„ 24 „ Kain at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. 
„ ■ 25 „ Dull morning. Rain from 3 p.m. to 6 P.M. 
„ 26 ,, Showers all day. 
„ 27 „ Dull morning. Showers from 1 p.m. 
„ 28 „ Showers all the morning. 
„ 29 „ Fine all day, but a severe thunderstorm at night. 
From the above it will be seen that I was blessed with the usual wet 
weather, namely, out of sixteen days eleven were wet. 
Although the cost per acre is a little more for the silo than for haymaking, 
the silo, being independent of the weather, will more than couaterbalance 
the difference, provided the grass in the silo turns out well. 
Mr. Edwards has kindly sent me the following account of 
the opening of his silo on the 4th of December, 1883, when I 
was present : — 
I opened my silo yesterdaj^, in the presence of Sir J. B. Lawes, Dr. Gilbert, 
Dr. Voelcker, Messrs. Walter Gilbey, John Thornton, H. M. Jenkins, and 
others. On removing the corrugated iron roofing, we found that the wet had 
been entirely kept out, and on taking away the boarding, we discovered that 
the surface of the silage for a depth of 6 inches was rotten, that the next 
12 inches were mouldy, and that the silage from that depth was good, and 
gave oS" a pleasant aroma. The grass having consisted entirely of bents, it 
was not so 'moist as is usual for silage, and I think the bents when cut 
must have been a little too ripe to ensure perfect silage. 
However, I look upon the experiment as a success, and I hope from the 
lesson I have learnt to benefit by it next season. A iX)rtion of the rotten and 
mouldy silage, and a portion of the good, were given to the cows, and they 
ate it with a relish which astonished all present. 
The foregoing account of the condition of the silage is quite 
in accordance with my own notes. The cause of so much mould 
and waste is not far to seek. A glance at the section of the 
silos (Fig. 1, p. 171) will show that they have sloping sides, and 
tlicrefore the weighted doors could not follow the pitted fodder 
as sinking progressed. This was evident as soon as the arrange- 
