176 
Heport on the Practice of JEnsilai/e, 
the weight of the hamper would be 65 lbs. This clay 370 hampers were filled 
in, and our average weight was 53 lbs., thus giving a total of 8 tons, 16 cwt. 
1 qr. 10 lbs. put in the silo ; in addition to this, salt was added at 1 lb. to 
the cwt. = 176^ lbs. = 1 cwt. 2 qrs. 8j lbs. Every tenth hamper of cut 
grass was weighed. The gi-ass was cut in lengths of from 2 to 1 inch. The 
labour employed was one man and two horses mowir.g ; one man sharpening 
and assisting to fill the carts; two men with carts, and two horses carting the 
grass from the field to the silo. Two men and two women in the field raking 
and cleaning the ground and loading the carts. At the silo one man was 
driving the engine, one feeding the chafi"-cutter, and one man supplying him. 
Three men were treading the cut grass in the silo, one raau was spreading 
grass and salting it ; two men and one boy were fixing hampers and removing 
them from the chaff-cutter, weighing the same and also salt, and lowering all 
into the silo. Stopped work at 7 r.M. with 8 feet of grass in the silo, weigh- 
ing 8 tons 16 cwt. 1 qr. 10 lbs. Stopped three hours during the day for 
meals, and the work all day only proceeded slowly, as all information had to 
be accurately taken, and much time was therefore lost. From 7 to 8 p.m. 
our weights were pnit on, after covering the surface with 11 inch boards; our 
weights were thirty boxes, made of li inch wood with handles of rope, each 
box being 1 foot 10 inches long, and 1 foot 5 inches wide by I foot 5 inches 
high, and contained thirty bricks : each box and bricks being in weight about 
2i cwt., the total weight, with boards, was about i tons. Two and a half 
acres of grass were mown this day. 
Jiily 5. — The weights were lifted out of the silo in half an bom-. Mowing 
commenced at 8 a.m., and the first load of grass was at the silo at 8.20. This 
morning we found that the silage had sunk during the night, and with the 
weights, to the extent of 1 foot; therefore the refilling began at 7 feet. The 
same mode of operation was followed this daj^, 169 hampers being put in the 
silo, averaging 58 lbs., and giving a total of -i tons 7 cwts. 0 qrs. 18 lbs., 
which added to July 4th total, gives total weight of grass in the silo 
13 tons 3 cwt. 2 qrs. Salt was used this day at the rate of 1 lb. to the 
cwt. of grass, thus 87 lbs. added to the 176, put in on the 4th, gives a total 
of 263 lbs., or 2 cwt. 1 qr. 11 lbs. The mowing-machine stopped tliis day at 
noon, and the chaff-cutter at 2 p.m. One and a half acres were mown this 
day. The same number of hands were employed at the silo, but three extra 
men were in the field loading grass. Boards were put on as before, and after- 
wards 6 inches bran, costing £3 10s., and then the boxes of weights. The 
crops realised about 3 tons 1 cwt. per acre, and if made into hay tliej' would 
have produced about 15 cwt. per acre. 
Jvly 6. — At noon the grass level was 10 feet, showing a sinkagc of 2 feet 
6 inches. 
Ju^Tj 7. — At 8.30 A.M. the grass-level was 9 feet 6 inches, showing a 
sinkage of 3 feet. 
July 14. — At 8.30 a.m. the grass-level was 8 feet 6 inches, showing a 
sinkage of 4 feet. 
July 27. — Boxes of weights and bran were cleared out of the silo ; mowing 
again commenced at 9.30. Silage was found to be brown and quite sweet, 
though it was slightly warm. Same mode of operation as before was followed. 
The grass mown was about li acres, and the weight put in the silo 3 tons 
5 cwt. 2 qr.s. 6 lbs., and i lb. of salt to each cwt. = 33 lbs. 151 liami)ers 
averaging 48 lbs. 
Total weight in silo, grass 
salt 
tons. cwts. qrs. lbs. 
13 3 2 0 
2 1 11 
13 5 3 11 
