Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-15
Ensilage.


in the earth as he supposcs Germans
did years ago. We certainly do not
think this the best way TO keep green
food for making milk. Fermentation
should be avoided as far as possible
and it is much more difficult to
prevent fermentation Of green corn
or clover in a trench in the earth
than in a silo with air.tight walls, as
is now used by NJ. GoiIart, Of France.
He formerly used the trench in the
earth, and found that much better
than drying the fodder, but he was
not able to prevent the air entering
through cracks in the covering or
earth when it settled. lie succeeded
in preserving green fodder in this
way for some six or eight years, and
regarded it as Il great Improvement
for winter feeding, as its succulence
was largely preserved, although fer
mentation had proceeded further than
was desirable.
The trench cnsilage was put up a
follows: On a dry piece Of ground
the earth was eXcayated in a trench
feet wide at the top and 3 feet wide
at the bottom, and as long as desired.
The green corn was cut and laid ia
lengthways Of the ditch and trodden
down solid. 1t was filled to the top
of the earth. and then carried up
both ways like the roof of house
some or 1 feet above the ground.
% tat . {. l.
and the earth thrown out of the
ditch used TO cover it some two feet
deep. When the green fodder settled
and caused the earth covering To
crack, more earth was thrown upon
these cracks and rammed down TO
keep the air from entering. This
was done several times and when
the fodder was taken out in winter.
it was eaten by cattle with better
relish than dry fodder. This is call
ed sour fodder.
But now NJ. Goffart has adopted 4
silo built with n tight wall of mason
ry, 6 feet high, upon each side, and
IL TO lG feet apart, with roof over il.
The roof is placed some feet above
the top Of the wall, so as TO give head
room for filling.
The best way to build. in most
places in this country, is with a water
lime concrete wall. 20 inches at the
bottom and IL inches at the top, the
slant being on the outside of the wall,
since tue inside must be perpendicu-
lar and smooth, for the planks, placed
on the top of the ensilage, to settle
as the green fodder settles or becomes
compressed. It is more convenient
TO have the silo walls IL TO II feet
apart, rather than wider. as the planks
are more easily handled that length.
A silo IL feet wide, lG feet high.
and 40 feet long, will hold about 1870
tons of green fodder. When more
room than this is needed. then build
two silos, side by side. and let the
middle wall be 30 inches thick, carried
up perpendicular on both sides, and
the two outside walls built as above
described.
The door OF the silo is in the end,
and the planks are placed cross-wise
on top after the silo is filed. One
| plank is taken off at time and this
space cut down for feeding. Instead
of laying in the corn lengthways
without cutting. as was formerly the
way, it is now run through a large
cutter, and cut into half.inch lengths,
and, by a carrier attached to the ma
chine, is delivered over the wall into
the silo. Here ii is spread evenly
and troden down solid. 1t will pack
much more solid after being cut
short in this way, and thus keep the
air from entering. When the silo is
full and solid, loose planks are fitted
in across on top from wall TO wall,
and a weight pressure is placed on
these with stone-about 800 pounds to
the square yard of surface. As the
green fodder settles these planks 90
down with it, and keep up constant
pressure on the upper surface, and
thus prevent the entrance of air. NJ.
Goffart thinks the small cracks be.
tween the planks facilitate the escape
of air contained in the ensilage, allow
ing it to pack so solid that further air
cannot enter. 1t is found TO be pack
ed so hard when the end is cut down
for feeding, that the air does not ef-
feet it during the long time of feeding
it out. When the air is properly
excluded, as by this method, ali kinds
of green fodder may be preserved,
and thus stock can be given, not mere
" green corn, but clover. timothy,
millet, oats and peas, oats, Hungarian
grass, rye, or any other green food.
Beet pulp, sugar meal (refuse of corn
in grape sugar making), brewers
grains or other like damp refuse, may
be preserved in this way by excluding