Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-06

of the contents from tho weight OF the
mass above. In all cases where practI-
cable, pits should be made 1T least ~
feet deep. The walls are made SO
smooth upon their inner sides as to oHer
no obstacle to the settling or compact
ing of the food by friction OF the sides |
These pits are made either open at the
top and covered with u root, or arched
over under ground, with two necks TO
each coming up to within one foot OF
the surface OF the ground, through
which they are filled and the necks then
sealed with earth. This last construction
l have found most convenient in con-
nection with basement stables, to which
the TODD is carried or wheeled by
passage trom the pits through the
foundation walls of the stable. In this
construction make one pit parallel with
the foundation wall, and from the side
of this pit most distant from the stable
other rows of pits are made at right
angles with and connecting with this,
and with each other by doorways.
1t will be seen from this construction
that as many ii rs of pits may be made
end to end, at right angles to the first
or entrance-pit. as may be required and
space allow, and that alter the contents
OF this first or entrance pit are fed out;
each OF the other row oi pits may be
opened and led out, one pit at time,
aud that only the surface OF the food at
the end of the one pit which is being
fed will at any time be exposed to the
air until the whole is fed out-and
this without opening or disturbing the
necks OF the pits above, which remain
sealed Any other form or construction
OF pits which answers the conditions
may be used. Pits or wells opened on
ly at the top, either round. eiliptical
or rectangular, may be used the food
beng put in and taken out through the
top only Such pits wou d have one ad
vantage, that successive groupings
might. be put in the same pit. one above
the other, each being sealed with Law
err of earth when put in. Where suiii
cient depth cannot be got above, water
pits may be made partly above and
partly below the surface, the earth eX
cavated being used to make broad ant
firm embankment around them to theil
tops. ." '--t
i s' FILLING THE PITS.
The green fodder is drawn from tht
fie as fast as cut, and may be cut il
any weather except during rain. Aite
running through the cutting machine i
is deposited and trod. into the pit tirml,
until the pit is lull The doorway g
. the end of the pit having already bee,
closed, by placing boards across it upo'
I the inside as the filling progre4
sed, is now sealed tightly b
, placing other boards properly iastene
across it upon the utslde OF the amb
! and filling the space between the jamb
> with we'll compacted earth, so that II
, air can pass into the pit through TIN
. doorway the outer covers are then pla
ed temporarily upon the necks OF thi
= PIT above. A second, and il the cuttin
. furce be large enough. third pit ma
then be filled, sealed and covered Iik
|. thirty-six hours the necks must be u
It covered and opened. The content
e will b. found very warm and thorough
e wilted, and upon being now trodde
l. down will occupy less than one halt an
if clover not more than one fourth OF tt
pit. The PIT should then be filed agai
trodden firmly and covered again ten
porarlly as before. The second ar
third pits should then be opened al
v filled a second time in the same mann
as the first one. Each pit should no
be opened and retilled as before at i
tervals of from tweuty-four to thir
+. hours. the contents at each time beir
OF trodden down as firmly and even
f. as possible, and this should be cont
| ued until settling nearly nr quite ceas
rs and the pits are full. Salt should
c. sprinkled occasionally over the tod:
tn while the pits are being filled. I
| pits being now full, and settling havil
~ nearly or quite ceased, must be imme'
i ately aud thoroughly sealed over t
Or whole top surface of the fodder by a W
a. compacted layer of clear earth not le
r. than six inches thick. If the pits a
rs arched over. they should be filled fulls
il along the centre line OF the arch a
,h must be- sealed from the spring OF
IN arch upon the curve which will be cat
n ed by this fulness in the centre
H. prevent the earth from ia ling away
u. opening cracks IN the sides in furtl
es settling. This covering OF earth shot
n be aiterward examined at least twice
at intervals of a week or ten days, and a
ed cracks that appear be closed with ire
er earth. A covering of straw or hay 1
10 more than two inches thick may be !,
.r. over the fodder before the earth Gov
en- ing is applied, but this is immater
As other than as Il matter of neatness.
he feeding, the fodder should be cut do
40 and fed from one end OF the pit in s
he tions OF convenient width, the earth
nd ing first removed from each section.
,ss open pits are used a layer OF hay
he straw may be put over the pit when
if. ed and sealed. to protect the conte
in from frost in winter, if nece ssary.
ii have not found any pressure or wei!
10 upon the fodder other than the ca
ID, covering required. 1t additional wei
70. is desired, heavier covering OF ca
ed will accomplish this and make the 81
|, is ing at the same time more perfect
res MINING FODDER IN THE PITS.
,us Much advantage will be gained
III. mixing clover and grass in which clio
ich predominates in the same pit thrOl
,od fodder corn, millet or sorghum.
tor clover becomes after the first iermer
ln- ton putty-like mass, which fills
les lnterstices in cOarser and more flor
on iOuueT, auu mus makes tne WnOl6 N
or more compact and weighty than it wo
the otherwise be. while it improves
m quality of the food.
di Among all our products lin the no,
ern states there Is none which will
TIA. more enhanced in value by this syst
hat than red clover. By it this is rende
on the most profitable and most easily !
served without detriment of all
,ch grasses. A well, built up with an
ate inch brick wall in cement, II feet in
,od ameter, 80 feet deep, with roof, wi
tor lass and bucket, will preserve perie,
OF and deliver for use the whole clover (
ac duct OF more than twenty acres of ter
land. l have recently put the TAI
cen heavy clover from 16 acres into sp
IN, "a feet long. IL feet wide and 10
lny deep. But the benefit OF this syst,
ort when applied throughout the coun
ch. IN preserving fodder corn, sorghum
rm- the large millets, will be incalcula
ssd These crops, hitherto the most ditfic
As uncertain and expensive to cure
nee preserve, become the surest, easiest
Ass least expensive in these respects, wi
in they are among the richest and
ON milk and butter producing foods kno
cut BY this system the whole southern I
led ton OF our country where the ia
70 mot =