230 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



CEMENT SILOS IN MICHIGAN. ; 



Bnlletiu No. 2.55. 



BY J. A. JEFFERY. 



The number of silos in Michigan is steadily increasing. The im- 

 portance of silage as a feed is coming to be more fully and more exten- 

 sively appreciated. In a similar ratio there is an increasing demand 

 for information concerning silo construction and silo material and this 

 demand has led to the publication of this bulletin. 



The plan followed in the preparation of this bulletin is: 



1st, To include some of the more important well established theories 

 of silo construction and 



2nd, To present a number of illustrations of successful Michigan 

 silos with data as to materials used and, where possible, methods of 

 construction and labor required. 



Ensilage may be roughly defined as moderately fermented succulent 

 feeding material. The succulent material is usually green corn in 

 this country. Other materials sometimes used are green field peas, cow 

 peas, soy beans, horse beans, ensiled alone or with corn. Green rye, 

 wheat, oats and others of the grasses are sometimes used. 



Some practical ensilage users think that certain of the legumes, such 

 as alfalfa, clover, field peas, cow peas or soy beans mixed with corn 

 make a much more desirable ensilage than does corn alone. Three 

 reasons are offered for this preference: 



1. Stock enjoy this mixed ensilage better. 



2. Stock thrive better upon it. 



3. Such an ensilage approaches more nearly a balanced ration. 



The green material is nearly always cut into short lengths before 

 being put into the silo. For several reasons it is better to cut it, 

 but it is not imperative that it be so cut. In early practice not even 

 corn was cut in ensiling. 



The best ensilage is produced when the air can be kept most completely 

 from coming in contact with the ensiled material. 



A silo may be defined as a deep chamber with air tight wall, in which 

 green fodders are preserved in a mildly fermented condition for future 

 feeding. 



ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF A GOOD SILO. 



1. The wall should be perfectly air tight; otherwise air will get 

 into the ensilage and promote molding and rotting. 



2. The inner surface of the wall should be perpendicular and smooth. 

 Where these qualities are lacking, open spaces are almost sure to occur 

 between the ensilage and the wall of the silo as the ensilage settles. 

 The air will work into these spaces with the effects mentioned above. 



3. The walls should be strong and rigid. If they do not possess 



