VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 61 



Three years ago we built a round silo at the end of the barn, 

 where the silage would come in easily, taking the old ones for 

 hay. This silo is 24 feet in diameter and 34 feet high, inside 

 measure. A circle was sawed from a plank, doubled to break 

 joints, and held in place upon the wall by rods which reach down 

 into the stone and cement. The wall, about 18 inches high on 

 the outside, is dishing on the inside, and the bottom is paved with 

 stone and Portland cement to keep rats out. Two by four stud- 

 ding, placed 14 inches apart, was nailed to this 8 inch bottom 

 circle and to a similar 4-inch circle at the top. Three lengths of 

 studding were used, therefore one 8 -inch and three 4-inch double 

 circles. An inch hole was bored between each stud in the 4-inch 

 circles, and when done, through the outside boarding, above the 

 8 -inch circle. This is to take out the dampness between the 

 boarding thus adding many years to the life of the silo. Four by 

 eight studding, held by iron rods, was used where connection is 

 made with the barn, for an opening to take out the silage. Short 

 plank, lined with tarred paper to break joints, is used here as 

 the corn is put in. The walls are double boarded, outside and 

 in, with unmatched hemlock, sawed ^x6 inches, planed on one 

 side. The joints were broken ever)' time around, on a different 

 stud. Its strength is enormous, as every board acts like a hoop. 

 Over 1,000 pounds of nails were used in its construction. Four 

 thicknesses of paper were used, that between inside boarding be- 

 ing tarred. The outside is clapboarded. Jack Frost has never 

 got through the walls. It cost about $500, but more expense was 

 put into the jet and cupola than was necessary. 



A building a few feet away, on about ten feet higher ground, 

 with floor for cutter and power two feet above the driveway, 

 and carrier from cutter to top of silo, makes it very handy in 

 filling. Low racks, with the top about eighteen inches from the 

 ground, are used for drawing. The corn is cut and bound with 

 a McCormick harvester, which saves much expense in handling. 



A very important part of the silo question is the cheapness 

 with which the corn can be raised. We plow the ground in the 

 late fall for two reasons. First, because we cannot plow so 

 much in the spring and get our crops in as early as we like to ; 

 and secondly, our ground, being a heavy clay marl, if plowed 

 in the fall, will harrow more mellow and be less lumpy, making 

 a better seed bed. We spread some manure in November and 

 December before snow comes, but more in early spring, using a 

 Kemp spreader. A heavy clover sod will furnish a large 

 amount of plant food for the corn, and together with a good 

 dressing of stable manure, well preserved, will make the buy- 

 ing of much commercial fertiliser unnecessary. 



Cultivation means a great deal. It means fertilization, as 

 it liberates plant food and makes it available. It means no 



