SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 755 



The staves were rough white pine, 2x4, 14 and 18 feet long to make 

 the required height. Four 4x6 uprights were placed on the foundation in 

 the circle 90 degrees apart, holes having been bored in them to receive 

 the iron hoops which had threads cut on the ends. The staves were 

 then set in the circle alternating in length so as to break joints. As each 

 2x4 was set up it was fastened to the next one by means of six inch 

 spikes which were driven through the 2x4's edgewise. Spiking in this 

 way makes the silo much more rigid and it is not so likely to be racked 

 or blown down when empty. When all the staves were in place the 

 silo was tightened by turning up the nuts at the ends of the iron hoops 

 on either side of the 4x6's. The hoops are much closer together at the 

 bottom than at the top to give the added strength necessary where the 

 pressure is the greatest. 



Four doors 18 inches wide and two feet high were cut in the side, 

 one above the other, about six feet apart. Outside of these was built 

 a chute to prevent the silage from being blown away when thrown down. 



There are several ' firms who manufacture stave silos and send them 

 out in any size desired, ready to set up. Many of these are made of 

 durable wood and give good satisfaction. One of these silos is illustrated 

 in Cut 33. 



While it is true thai a stave silo may be used to advantage in some 

 cases, yet where a permanent silo is desired either the wood silo 

 plastered with cement, or the grout, or brick structure will undoubtedly 

 prove most satisfactory, both on account of greater permanency and the 

 better preservation of the silage. 



THE SILO AS A FACTOR IN ECONOMICAL FEEDING. 



BY IIOX. JOHN PATTEESOX, KIEKSVILLV., MO. 



The economy in feeding cows is not saving feed, for the more you can 

 get her to eat and digest, the more she will make for her keeper. 

 When I think of that I remember what the Swedish dairyman said: "If 

 I feed a half gallon of barley a day, I get nothing for it; she needs that 

 for her own support. But if I feed a whole gallon, she gives enbugh 

 more to pay double for it." That means if you feed little, you lose the 

 value of that, but if you' feed generously she makes you a prbfit. That 

 is, she ought to have all she can eat and digest properly. Besides feed, 

 she must be kept in a comfortable place so as not to be exposed to storms, 

 rain and snow; she must be handled by folks that know how to be good 

 to a cow. There are gome men that it is not possible to learn that. 

 They wiU roar, swear and beat her for awkwardness and roughness of 

 their own, F^here a man that would be gentle and kind would have no 

 trouble. 



The first thing is the procuring of feed. I take it that the dairjonan 

 is a farmer and runs his farm to produce dairy products. Then he 

 wants to raise as nearly as possible all the feed on the farm. He has it 



