28 
The Colorado Experiment Station. 
bought to be used for this purpose they are not bought with enough 
power. It seems that the manufacturers’ estimates are too low for 
power required to run their cutters. Enough power should be pro¬ 
vided so that the cutter can be run at full capacity with steady speed, 
otherwise the extra cost of a larger cutter is wasted. As a rule one 
should figure on from a fourth to a third more horsepower when 
puchasing a gasoline engine than a steam engine. Of course, power 
varies with work done, and it seems that when a cutter with a blow¬ 
er elevating thirty feet is run by a steam engine, the power required 
would be about one horsepower for every ton of green fodder cut 
and elevated per hour. 
Length of Cutting. —Short, whole corn has been put into silos 
with reasonable success, but it is a practice not to be recommended. 
It is difficult to pack such material compactly enough to insure per¬ 
fect exclusion of air. It is advisable to cut all forages in lengths 
not to exceed three-fourths of an inch, and one-half inch is better. 
Not only will such lengths pack more thoroughly, but the stock will 
eat it up more completely than when put in uncut. Cut silage is 
also more easily removed. 
Distributing and Packing .—The man in the silo really has the 
most particular job to perform. Upon his efforts depends largely 
the quality of the resulting silage. The silage distributor used with 
blowers is a great help, as it adds to the comfort of the man and de¬ 
creases the amount of labor necessary to move the silage, allowing 
more time for packing. Packing should be thorough over the en¬ 
tire surface of the silo, but more so around the walls. The surface 
should be kept saucer-shaped with the higher edge at the wall. This, 
when thoroughly packed, will prevent the settling away of silage 
from the walls, and letting in air. If the silo is filled in one day, 
it is sure to settle five or six feet in the course of a few days. It is 
then best to remove any decayed silage on top and refill in order to 
utilize the full capacity of the silo. 
Adding Water .—Where the fodder has been severely frosted 
or burned, or has been allowed to mature so that the leaves and 
husks are brown, water must be added in order to thoroughly wet 
the fodder and make it pack more easily and to help exclude the air. 
The amount required depends upon the condition of the fodder. 
There is not much danger of adding too much water, but there is 
serious danger of using too little. The fodder should come from 
the blower in a thoroughly wet condition. The best method of add¬ 
ing water is to run it directly into the blower. In this way the 
silage is more evenly wet down than by taking the hose into the silo. 
Where water with pressure is not available, a barrel or tank fitted 
with a faucet emptying into the blower is a handy arrangement for 
