ENSILAGE

in agriculture, a mode of storing green fodder or vegetables in receptacles called ‘silos.’ These are usually pits of quadrangular form, lined with wood, brick, concrete, or stone. The fodder is cut and mixed, placed in the silo, pre ed down, and kept compre ed by heavy weights placed on a movable wooden covering. It undergoes a slight fermentation, and attains a slightly acid taste and smell, which is particularly grateful to cattle. The modern system of ensilage dates from about 1875, but the prac-~tice was known to the ancient Romans, and the system has been common in Mexico for centuries. Such advantages are claimed for it, as that in a wet season gra can be made into ensilage instead of hay, and that there is little lo of nutritive elements, while it has great feeding powers. Succe ful experiments have shown that green fodder may be converted into ensilage without a pit by simply piling up and consolidating by pre ure.