182 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
Mr. Gibson's description of his silos requires very little 
explanation, but I ought to point out some features in them 
which may possibly excite criticism. First of all, it should be 
stated that although the corrugated-iron roof is necessarily in 
sections, owing to the length of the row of silos, under the 
margins of two adjoining sections is a galvanized-iron furrow, 
which performs the double duty of a resting-piece and a drain 
to carry off rain-water. These sections of the roof are really 
flaps on hinges, and are opened by raising the lower edge by 
means of a portable pulley and rope at the end of a pole. 
When raised enough, their position is maintained by fixing in a 
couple of rods into holes on the top of the silo wall, and into 
sockets in the galvanized-iron flap. The covering of the silage is 
most completely done, but, as I could not help remarking, at what 
seemed to me too great a cost. The dovvelling of the boards, 
the cost of the felt, and then that of the battens, with nails and 
labour, both in putting on and almost more in taking off, must 
make up a rather considerable sum. Still, Mr. Gibson was of 
opinion that the outlay was remunerative, because it saved 
waste of material. Mr. Gibson also piles a quantity of cavings 
above the boards and weights, with a view to assist in excluding 
the air from the silage. The silo which I saw opened on 
October 10th, 1883, contained chopped clover, which had been 
put in about the beginning of July, and had therefore been in 
about three months. The top of the fodder was mouldy only to 
the depth of 1^ to 2 inches, and the sides close to the outside 
wall were also damaged, but only to the thickness of 2J inches. 
The remainder was perfectly good, but apparently had not gone 
much beyond the alcoholic fermentation. The smell was strongly 
that characteristic of aldehyd in silage. As Mr. Gibson states 
above, the pitted fodder goes mouldy in three or four days. In 
some other silos Mr. Gibson has green rye sown after harvest, and 
followed in the spring by turnips. Altogether he has 400 tons 
of fodder pitted. The great disideratum here was a machine 
for elevating the cut fodder into the silo; because at present it 
has to be carried up several feet. Mr. Gibson has the credit of 
being one of the first men in England to put the system of en- 
silage to the test under the " nouvcau regime^'' and therefore the 
results of his experience are entitled to great weight : — he con- 
siders that the use of silage does not increase the flow of milk, 
and he has found that it does not pay to feed cows entirely upon 
it, as it has too costive an effect ; but he has not found the use 
of it interfere with the breeding-properties of the cows, or other- 
wise be detrimental to their health, lie has successfully fattened 
cattle entirely on silage and an allowance of linseed-cake. 
Two samples of his silage were sent by Mr. Gibson to the 
