80 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



For outside, use one layer of some sheeting as used inside, one coat of 

 building paper cover with white pine. C siding rabbeted. In putting on 

 both in and outer lining and siding, break joints as often as possible by 

 starting on alternate studs. All these boards act as hoops and this is 

 where the round silo gets its strength and why it is better than any 

 »»ther kind. If silo is less than twenty feet in diameter the layer of half- 

 inch stuff under siding may be dispensed with. Use conical shingle roof, 

 with good ventilator, the diameter of which schould be at least one-fifth 

 that of the silo. A dormer window should be put in roof above plate for 

 filling. Do not cut away the top plate to get this window in, as the plate 

 helps brace the top. I use window sash for the upper half of this to let 

 in light. The lower part is a door hinged at the top. The opening, in- 

 cluding door and window, is about two feet, eight inches, by five feet. 



Rats are very fond of silage, and this is the reason the bottom should 

 be cemented and the foundation come above the ground afoot or more. 



I am aware that some stave silos have been found fairly satisfactory; 

 but on account of the shrinkage in drying out in the spring the hoops get 

 loose and the wind is apt to rack or blow them down. 



One of the important things is to get the silo as deep as possible in 

 proportion to the diameter. The deeper the silo the greater the pressure 

 and the smaller the feeding surface exposed. A silo twenty feet in diam- 

 eter and twenty-two feet deep will hold about one hundred and seven tons. 

 If you will add ten feet to the depth you about double its capacity, or 

 have two hundred and four tons. My silo will hold three hundred and 

 fifty tons and cost to build in 1901, $550. 



The silage keeps perfectly. There is practically no loss. What shall 

 we put in our silo? Where corn can be grown as abundantly as in Iowa, 

 we believe it the best crop for ensilage, though clover, sorghum, millet 

 and other plants have been tried with good success. 



TIME OF FILING. 



I have found best results from taking corn when ears are as nearly 

 matured as possible and yet have at least half of the leaves green. I use 

 corn harvester and haul direct from field to cutter. My cutter is 16-inch 

 with 45-foot elevator. For power we use a six horse power gasoline en- 

 gine. The distance to field, and the conditions are so varied about differ- 

 ent places as to make it impossible to tell just how many hands can be 

 profitably employed. 



If your silo is twenty feet or more in diameter, put two of your trust- 

 iest men in the silo, to see that the corn is evenly and well spread, and 

 tamped. General tamping of the whole surface is important; but much 

 the larger amount of labor should be expended around the sides, as the 

 friction against the walls prevents its settling. 



If corn gets a little dry or has been frosted, as was the case this year, 

 use water. In filling, I used twenty-five pails of water at noon and twen- 

 ty-five at night. When I had finished, I put on six or eight barrels. Three 

 or four inches on top is all the ensilage that spoiled. 



