
New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 327 
the report of the First Assistant, the size of the silo was much 
smaller than desirable, and the opening of it in the fall for exam- 
ination reduced the size and gave greater exposure to the remain- 
ing portion, which was opened in February, with results ag 
previously stated. Had the amount of material for building the 
silo been sufficiently large so that its depth could have been 
much increased, I think there is little doubt but that a much 
larger proportion of the silage would have come out in good 
condition for feeding. : 
“The percentage loss from decay would necessarily be larger 
than in a well-filled silo, but had at least double the quantity of 
straw been used at the bottom, and the top covered to a depth 
of one foot, I think the loss would undoubtedly have been much 
less. | 
“The question of open air silos is of so much importance that 
it would seem desirable to repeat the experiment another season 
_on a larger scale and under more favorable conditions before pro- 
nouncing upon its feasibility as a method of storing forage crops. — 
A circular stack would seem a more economical method for build- 
ing an out-door silo, as less surface would be exposed, and I 
think the compression could be applied just as well as with a 
Square one.” | 
In the early part of September, 1888, a foundation for another 
out-door silo was made on nearly level ground by spiking together 
three sets of three 2-inch plank which were 14 feet long and 10 
inches wide. These were laid up edgewise, to take advantage of 
the increased strength of an edgewise strain in pressing the silo, 
and they were placed about 334 feet apart on low broad blocks to 
raise the edges a few inches above the ground. These three 
improvised timbers were then covered with pieces of board, plank, 
slabs and small joists, altogether making a bottom 10 feet square. 
Joists 4x4 inches square and 14 feet long were raised at the 
corners perpendicular to the bottom and stayed for guides in 
building the stack. 
September 14, 16681 pounds of corn was put on the foundation. 
This built up the stack 94 feet high. 
In building the stack four boards were placed within the joists 
and when the filling had reached to the top edges they were raised _ 
