Jahj 2, 1908.J AgriGiiltiiral Gazette of N.S. W. 587 



An Inexpensive Silo. 



F. G. OHOMLFA'. 



An opportunity was recently aiforded me, by the courtesy of Mr. C. W. 

 Bowyer-Smijth, of Green Hills, near Moss Vale, to visit liis dairy farm and 

 there see his silo. The pliotographs which accompany these notes were 

 kindly foi-warded by Mr. Bowyer-.Smijth, and by referring to the first illus- 

 tration it will l)e seen verv clearly how advantage has been taken of a rather 

 -steep hill in which to excavate the pit, so that filling can be carried on by 

 l)ringing the loarJs to the silo on the upper side and throwing them off. 



This form of silo has been used by several farmers, and where the natural 

 lay of the land permits, it is a great saving of labour in filling. 



The silo, which is 20 feet square by 12 feet deep, was excavated in the 

 hillside as shown, and the roadway leading to it also cut. The walls of the 

 .silo are vertical and are lined with split slabs, firmly spiked to horizontal 

 hearers 23 feet long by 9 inches thick, which cross at the corner, and are 

 there held by coach screws : the slabs are butted up to each other, edge to 

 edge, as close as possible, the wliole forming as smooth a surface as can be 

 ■obtained with split timber. The doorway, as shown in the illustration, is 

 formiNl of sawn hardwood put in horizontally — the pieces of wood forming 

 which are held against the rebate on the door-posts by the silage — the method 

 of fixing H doorwav of this description is shown in the Gazetfe for ]March, 

 190.S, page 244. 



The cart-wav is cut right into the [lit, the bottom of which slightly falls 

 iiway from the bottom of the silo for drainage, and to .secure that storm- 

 water does not lodge in it. 



The full cost of each section of the silo is clearly set out in the appended 

 .statement kindly handed to me by Mr. Bowyer-Smijth : — 



Cost of Silage Pit. 



Excavation — £ s. cl. 



Pit, 20 ft. X 20 ft. X 12 ft. = 177 square yards 8 17 



Cartway to pit 75 cubic yards ... .. ... ... ... o 15 



Timber — 



12 logs, 23 ft. X 9 in., for foundation of walls (liorizontab ; 

 120 slabs for walls (vertical): laljour for cutting and 



•splitting "^ ... 2 



Drawing timber to pit ... ... ... ... ... 10 



Labour, timbering pit ... ... ... ... .. 1 10 



Iron — 



Ten 10 in. x 1 in. coach screws .. .. ... ... ... 3 6 



40 lb. 7 in. X g in. spikes 10 



Fencing— 



Fencing round pit, including three slip rails, 4 chains ... 10 



Total £18 5 6 



