at Home and Abroad. 
187 
They were fresh in coudition when put on silage, having been tied up to 
turnips and meal for feedinp;, until discovered to be with calf in November, 
when they were taken out of the byre. They get about 30 lbs. each of the 
good silage per day, and part of the damaged from top and sides is also 
given them, a large proportion of which they eat at leisure. We cannot see 
any difference in their condition, and they look remarkably healthy and well, 
with silky coats and loose skins, and bright cheerful appearance. The two 
that are tied up, I think, are in the better condition of the two lots. 
I was somewhat doubtful as to the wisdom of putting so many valuable 
in-calving heifers exclusively on silage diet when so forward with calf, 
fearing this new food might alfect the calf-bed and bring about abortion ; but 
being very anxious to test the real value cf silage as feeding material, in as 
many ways as possible, I decided to risk the loss, and on the whole eight, as 
two or three would not have proved much. They have been watched closely 
everyday, and, so far, all are doing exceedingly well* We have also seventeen 
yearlings living entirely on silage since the opening, and all are thriving 
and looking fairly well. 
I hope by the time the 70 tons are used, to be able to give a fairly safe 
opinion as to the difference in value of the silage made from leguminous 
plants and that made from clover-grass, as to their respective feeding- 
values. If silage is to be of any great value, as a feeding material, to the 
farmer, I think it must come by converting into silage our leguminous 
crops, instead of spending so much on our heavy soils in growing turnips, 
which in our northern climate is so expensive and so precarious. If we can 
do this to advantage, silage will be a most valuable adjunct to our other 
feeding-stuffs. t — January 30th, 1884. 
I visited the silo on January 23rd, but have nothing to add 
except that the pitted fodder was very good, and that 
Mr. Hunting's well-known position as a veterinary surgeon 
gives his statements as to the effect of silage upon animals a 
special value. 
28. Mr. Garrett Taylor, Trowsc House, Nonvich. — The silo is 14 feet long, 
13 feet deep, and 6 feet wide, and is above ground, being constructed of 
14-inch brick-work with a floor ot 5-inch cement concrete in the end of a barn. 
Its cost was about 18?. 14s. Sd., and it will last probably as long as we can 
look forward to. It was filled in July, and we puijpose beginning again in 
June 1884. 
The pitted material v.-as sc waged Italian-rye grass, about 4j acres, and 
when cut to put in the silo was more than ri[)e. It was chopped into 
f of an inch lengths by steam, Maynard's chafif-cutter being used. Salt was 
added only to preserve it. 
The silo was filled in two days of 5 hours each, and every layer of 
about 6 inches was well rammed, 2 lbs. of salt being added to each. The 
fodder was covered with boards closely placed, and weighted with bags of 
sand ; no mechanical contrivance was used. 
The silo contains from 10 to 12 tons fit for use. The covering with old 
waste boards and sand cost about 21., and the expense of filling was 5?. 3s. 6d. 
* One of the heifers calved on the 3rd of February, and is doing well ; the 
calf was well developed, and a plump vigorous little fellow. — C. H. 
t Four of our horses are now eating the silage very well, five others only 
moderately, and three will not eat it. Neither the pigs nor the sheep care to eat 
it, either alone or mixed with other foods, but all the cattle seem to eat it with 
greater relish than they did, and leave all other food to eat it. — C. H., Feb. llth. 
