The Construction of the Stave Silo. 481 



until the hoops are put in place. However, if it becomes neces- 

 sary for any reason to delay for any considerable time the put- 

 ting on of the hoops, boards should be nailed across the top of the 

 silo. These will serve as braces and will enable the silo to resist 

 wind storms of considerable violence without collapsing. As the 

 staves are set up the level or plumb should be used occasionally 

 to determine if they are being set vertically. The 6x6 posts 

 mentioned as being first to be set in place are not a necessity, 

 the}^ are a convenience. Where a silo is being erected away from 

 any other building these posts furnish the fixed points and 

 assist in giving stability to the structure. When the roof is put on 

 they will also be found of material benefit. If the silo is set up 

 inside of the barn or in close proximity to the barn or other 

 building, the first staves set up may be braced from the building. 

 After a few staves are in place plank may be nailed across the 

 top and thus a platform secured upon which a man can work. 

 Unless some better method for securing the scaffolding can be 

 devised the use of the uprights as shown in fig. 77 will be 

 found valuable. 



Splicing the staves. — If it is desired to build a silo 24 to 30 feet 

 or more in height, it will often be found impracticable if not 

 impossible, to secure staves the full length desired. Where this 

 is the case a joint or splice may be made. For a silo 30 feet deep 

 staves 20 feet in length may be used. A part of these should be 

 used at their full length and part should be sawed through the 

 middle, thus making staves of 20 and 10 feet length. In setting 

 them up the ends which meet at the splice should be squared and toe 

 nailed securely together. They should alternate so that first a long 

 stave is at the bottom then a short one, thus breaking joints at 10 

 feet and 20 feet from the base. This breaking joints is preferable 

 to having the joint come in a circle entirely around the silo, as it 

 gives additi-onal strength. Care needs to be exercised that the 

 ends are made square, otherwise the air will be admitted. 



Hoops for the stave silo. — The hoops for the stave silo are 

 usually made from five-eighths inch round iron or steel rods. 

 Cheaper substitutes have been used and given good satisfaction. 

 The frontispiece shows a silo erected at Cornell Universit}^ in which 

 common woven wire fencing was made to serve as hoops. When 



