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Size—The trench is made long and narrow, with a sloping entrance or gangway.
A good width to start with is 12 to 14 feet, and the depth will depend on the height of
the water in the soil and the amount of stock to be fed each day. Where the water
level is low, the trench can be constructed entirely below ground. Where the water
level is high, the silo can be constructed partly below ground and partly above. In this
case the excavated soil is built up along the sides of the trench so as to give greater
depth for storage; also, a rough cribbing must be made to give support to the above-
ground portion. The illustration by Prof. J. H. Ellis, of M.A.C., is of this type of trench
silo.

The length of the silo depends upon the amount of crop available for ensilage and
the number of animals to be fed. A beginner would do well to make the trench 12
feet wide and 8 to 10 feet deep, and long enough to hold the crop. To get a rough rule
of estimating the necessary length of the silo, the best guide to go by is the result of
work done on the Brandon Experimental Farm in this connection. In 1922 a trench
silo was dug on the Brandon Farm, 12 feet wide and 30 feet long. Into this silo 45
tons of green corn were cut, which filled the silo to a depth of 8 feet. Thus the weight
of silage in the trench 12 by 8 feet was 1% tons for every foot of length. A rough
practical rule, where a 12 x 8 foot silo is used, is to divide the number of tons of corn
by 1%; this will give the approximate length in feet to make the trench.

With a narrow trench and sloping sides there should be little difficulty from “caving
in” for several years with most soils. However, if cribbing becomes necessary, it should
be like the trench silo itself—cheap and home-made. In the bush country, where
lumber is cheap, rough sawed lumber may be used. Another method which is both
cheap and very effective is to make a crib by sodding with prairie sods similar to the
manner of building sod shacks of former days. These will effectively crib the sides
for a number of years. To further assist in lengthening the life of the trench silo, it
should be fenced; horses and cattle should not be allowed to tramp near the edge, and
heavy loads should not be driven near.

After the location has been decided upon, a line should be stretched along each
side of the proposed silo and the boundary marked by making a groove with a spade.

The earth is usually loosened by plowing, and removed with a scraper.

Close watching and careful work will be necessary to keep the sides straight and
smooth as the excavating progresses. Before the silo gets too deep, the teams with
scrapers can be driven lengthwise straight through the trench, but when the trench
gets to be about 5 or 6 feet deep in the middle, it will be time to definitely locate one
end and cut the end wall to the desired slope. From then on it will be necessary to
turn the team around in the trench. If the silo can be located on a side hill, so that
the opening into one end can be level with the trench floor, both excavating and re
moval of silage will be made easier.

FILLING THE TRENCH SILO

In filling a trench silo, remember that thorough packing is essential to
success. The excess of air must be pressed out by tramping in order to
control the fermentation. Air pockets or poorly tramped silage results in excessive
heating and mouldy or spoiled silage. Filling should take place from the bottom in
layers, and not from one end. As each layer is put in, it should be mixed and
thoroughly tramped, especially at the sides, by driving a horse or horses backwards
and forwards over the material. The big advantage of the sloping side walls becomes
evident here, as they allow the horse or horses to tramp right to the very edges of the
silage. The more thoroughly the silage is tramped, the better will be the quality of
the silage. This process is continued until the trench is full.

When filling is completed a layer of one to two feet of wet chaff or short straw
should be spread over the top to make an air seal and prevent the top of the silage
from spoiling. This wet chaff should also be well tramped down.

A temporary roof may be put on to keep out the snow and the rain. This is, made
by laying poles or woven wire over the material in the silo and covering with a few
loads of straw, or by threshing a small stack over the trench. This is all the roof that
is necessary for Winter conditions. A well-rounded straw roof, if well built, will shed
the late Fall rains and will keep the snow from wetting the silage.

TAKING OUT THE SILAGE
In taking the silage from a trench silo, the silage is removed from the sloping end
clean from side to side, just like cutting a slice of bread from a loaf, so that a straight
vertical face is left on the end. This provides for the removal of a portion each day, so
that moulds and spoilage will not have a chance of development, “and the silage will
keep fresh.

A loose-leaf binder for holding these Farm News Sheets may be had at the small
price of 50c, postage paid, with index and news sheets issued to date. This special offer
is to encourage the keeping and filing of agricultural information for quick reference
when wanted. See the Farm News Service page in our General Catalogue for further
information.

If you receive an extra copy of a bulletin, please pass it on to a friend or neighbor.

The information contained in this bulletin is received from reliable sources, but
the Company does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damage which
any person may sustain in carrying out or in attempting to carry out the suggestions.