54 
The Colorado Experiment Station. 
fourteen head of cows does not exceed two minutes per day over 
that required to feed the same number of cows from a high silo. 
Assuming a feeding season of two hundred twenty days, the 
additional labor would be but seven hours for the season, or for 
twenty-four cows it would be but fourteen hours. At twenty cents 
per hour for labor, the extra cost of feeding twenty-four cows would 
be but $2.80 for the season. This would go but a little way towards 
paying interest on the extra money invested in high silos and equip¬ 
ment for filling them. 
Pig. IV. County Agriculturist W. H. Lauck of El Paso county, help¬ 
ing build pit silos on farms in that county. Digging the trench for the con¬ 
crete ring. Note the method of describing the circles. (Photo by Frear.) 
Advantages .—Pit silos have some advantages over high silos 
besides their cheapness. First, it is practical to make a silo of very 
small dimensions. The ensilage will keep without drying or freez¬ 
ing. This recommends the pit silos to those who wish to keep only 
five or six cows. Second, there is no trouble from feeding frozen 
ensilage even in the coldest weather. Third, after the ensilage has 
thoroughly cooled it is possible to feed off as little as one inch per 
day without danger of spoiling, even in warm weather. The pit is 
so cool that fermentation does not begin quickly. Fourth, the pit 
silo will recommend itself to those who are short on money and long 
on time. By three such persons working together they can make 
silos at very little cost. 
Gas .—There has been a great deal said about the dangers of 
gas in pit silos. I am thoroughly convinced fiom my own experi¬ 
ence and from the experience of others that there is no danger from 
gas except at filling time or while the ensilage is going through the 
heat. While the ensilage is going through the heat there is a large 
