March 29,1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 269 
After these prefatory remarks we will proceed to give the best 
information upon our subject, which we have obtained from the 
best sources at home and abroad duriug the past two years in 
which it has been tried by experiments. The results attained 
will not yet settle the question entirely as to the best mode of 
proceeding, but will go far to induce some of the most intelligent 
and persevering farmers and others to improve as much as possible 
upon our present knowledge of the subject. 
Ensilage may well be described as the preservation of various 
kinds of green fodder, such as grass of pastures, water meadows, 
and the produce also of the arable land, like Clover, Lucerne, Rye 
Grass, aftermath, Maize, and other forage plants iu a state by 
which they will contain nearly the same properties and feeding 
value as when brought fresh from the field in a green state in the 
summer and autumn months. We will take first for consideration 
the making of the silo, which is, in fact, a pit underground, or a 
waterproof tank either partly or wholly above ground. It is pro¬ 
bable that the best constructed silos upon the most durable prin¬ 
ciple will be most desirable for those who can afford the cost and 
necessary expenditure ; because, when properly constructed, there 
is no reason why they should not last for many years with but 
small repairs. As regards material, we think the best and most 
durable, as well as reasonable in first cost, will be concrete from 
12 to 18 inches in thickness for the sides, ends, and floor, but faced 
inside with cement, in order to offer a smooth surface to the sub¬ 
stances buried, and at the same time insuring the well being 
watertight either from within or from without. The soil in which 
the silo may be constructed should be quite dry, or otherwise 
drained to prevent injury and decay to the walls on the outside 
Fig. 67 .—Dutcu Barn and Silo. 
A, Barn ; B, Silo ; C, D, Concrete. 
Opinions still differ as to the most convenient width, depth, and 
length o£ the pit or tank, whether built under the ground level or 
above it. We think the best size will be found to be about 12 feet 
wide and 12 feet deep, but the length of the tank must be con¬ 
sidered as a question of the quantity of fodder to be buried. In 
case of large quantities, then convenience dictates that there 
6'nould be divisions, if continued for any considerable distance, 
say 15 or 20 feet for them ; each tank would then be 15 feet 
long, 12 feet wide, and 12 deep, placed in continuation end for end, 
or at a reasonable distance apart side by side, with room for 
cartage between them. 
The sides of the tank it is recommended should be constructed 
with a slight slope outwards, or “ batter ” as it is called, of about 
half an inch in the foot, so that the tank may be rather widest at 
the top. The object of this is to obtain compactness in the mass 
of ensilage and the entire exclusion of air ; and as the fodder sinks 
the sloping sides will allow the weights at top to sink also and 
assist in rendering the mass more solid by giving more effect to 
the pressure used at the top of whatever materials it may be 
formed. These may consist of 2-inch wooden planks and blocks 
of concrete not over 75 lbs. each, or earth laid thereon. We prefer 
the latter, especially as the covering to the silo may well be 
covered like a Dutch barn with corrugated iron roof, such as 
recommended by Pearson & Company of Glasgow, and repre¬ 
sented in the annexed figure. So that after filling the silo 
with the green forage the space above, 15 feet up to the eaves 
may be occupied with hay or corn at harvest time ; and when 
the silo is covered with earth the horses would in that case 
find a footing for drawing in the loaded carts. We must further 
state that as green fodder yields a certain amount of liquid juice 
in the silo, the floor should be made with a slight incline towards 
one end, and a small well-hole will be useful to hold the liquor 
which escapes from the ensilage at the lowest end. This may be 
emptied first by reaching in and removing the mass, and may be 
used as a nutritious liquor, mixed or diluted with water, for the 
dairy cows. The advantage of not making the silos larger than 
the cattle require, and of which they can consume the contents 
within a few days or a week, is correct management, because the 
ensilage would generally become mouldy and distasteful if not 
used within the time named. This fact must therefore decide the 
best size for the silo. 
We will now refer to the practice of ancient date—namely, 
digging a pit in dry soil, such as sand without stones, firm clay, 
or chalk, for storing com, &c., in Asia. This plan is common 
amongst the small or tenant farmers of the interior of America 
for storage of green fodder and vegetables, such as Cabbages. 
The plan is to dig and excavate the soil 8 feet wide, 8 feet deep, 
and of proportionate length, the ensilage to be well trodden down 
but not cut into chaff—except in the case of Maize with coarse 
stalks—whether it is composed of coarse prairie grass, Clover, 
Rye, &c.; but before covering with earth, fern or straw is laid 
over the ensilage. The earth may then be made up in a conical 
form, which answers the double purpose of weighting and com¬ 
pressing the mass and shedding the water from the silos. In this 
way, also, Potatoes, Mangold, Carrots, and other roots are stored 
during the winter, and it answers well in a climate where the 
frost is often much more intense than in England. Cabbages are 
placed in layers with their roots upwards, and then covered with 
less earth than is required for Potatoes. An American farmer 
tells us that the Cabbages, especially the best Drumhead Savoys, 
keep very sweet and perfect for three or four months. We name 
these latter plans for the advantage of those who cannot afford 
the expensive silos now becoming fashionable amongst the highest 
and wealthy class of farmers and dairymen. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—Full employment for the horses has been the rule 
of late, and if the weather continues fine the frosty mornings, 
which had hindered the plough for a time, will probably have the 
effect of making the land work more easily and facilitate the seed¬ 
ing of various crops. Although we lost much time throughout the 
winter and much land could not be sown in due season with Wheat, 
yet during this month the seed has gone in well, because the ground 
was generally damp, which is favourable for Wheat-sowing at any 
time if the seed can be properly buried and the land worked off in 
good form. It sometimes happens when the winter has been favour¬ 
able that the month of March is unpropitious, and in our farm 
memorandums for the year 1862 we note that the teams of horses 
only did three days’ work on the land during that month. There is 
no doubt that in case the last part of this month proves dry the 
prospect of the Wheat crop will improve. 
We continue sowing White Victoria Oats, the sample being good 
and weighing over 45 tbs. per bushel. The Early Dun Peas, also, are 
now being sown in good season. The land for Potatoes is now being 
prepared, so that planting of the second early varieties may be com¬ 
menced, the early sorts having been put in the beginning of March. 
From this time the Magnum Bonum will be the sort to plant upon all 
dry and friable loamy soils, after that the Champion. Both of these 
sorts produce much haulm and foliage when highly manured. We 
must therefore call attention to an excellent article on the sub¬ 
ject of manuring in this Journal March 16th. It indicates a new 
departure in manuring for second early and late varieties as regards 
manuring, illustrating the advantages of the use of kainit or the 
German potash salts and superphosphate, only 2 cwt. per acre of each of 
these manures being required to produce full crops of excellent 
quality ; indeed, much better than when 2 cwt. of nitrate of soda or 
guano had been added. It is not stated the distance between the 
rows at which the sets were planted. Therefore we assume that the 
sets may be put closer than we stated as our practice last w eek—■ 
namely, 36 inches, and 18 inches in the lines. We infer, also, that 
nearly all sorts which yield but little foliage, but the early varieties 
in particular, will bear a full dressing, such as we recommend through 
our own experience—viz., 2 cwt. of kainit and 3 or 4 cwt. of the best 
Peruvian guano mixed per acre. 
As we are now drawing near to the time for drilling Mangold seed, 
we recommend the early season as the best, especially for the slow- 
growing sorts like the Golden Tankard, which contains the greatest 
feeding value of any sort grown for cattle-feeding. It is, however, 
objected that the roots do not come so large nor produce such heavy 
weights per acre as the Yellow Globe and Long Red, but this is to be 
improved upon by leaving the plants nearer together in the rows and 
early sowing. It is even recommended by some growers as a good 
plan to grow alternate lines of Long Red and Golden Tankard. But 
in alternate culture we should prefer to grow Golden Tankard and 
Red Intermediate Carrot in alternate rows. 
Live Stock. —Sheep, especially ewes and lambs, have improved of 
late ; both mutton and lamb are selling at high prices, and will reward 
the farmer for good and careful management. Upon grazing land, 
and especially the vale farms whereon the lambs are usually sold at 
lightweights, they may now with probable advantage beheld on and 
made up to the weight of 9 or 10 stones of 8 lbs., and pay better than 
by selling them as usual at 10 lbs. or 12 lbs. per quarter. Bullocks 
of all ages, from two years and over, will now pay well for breeding 
