The Modern 8 Ho. ' 821 



air. 'J'o make any mass' of green stiitt' fill all tlit> interstices it 

 requires to l>e chaffed — lience the stack is out of the question for 

 permanent piirjwses. The more readily air can gain access, the greater 

 will be the destrnction of food materials. A deep silo is therefore 

 better than a shallow one, and round is a better shape than scpiare or 

 rectangular, k. round silo is not only stronger, but there are no 

 corners to keep the mass from settling down uniformly. If tliese 

 conditions are fulfilled there is no uncertainty with regard to the 

 result. 



Essentials for Success- 



To obtain the best possible results we require (1) to cut the crop 

 up small, so as to allow it to be pressed into a solid mass ; (2) to have 

 the silo air tight ; (o) to have it built so as to offer no obstruction 

 to the uniform settling of the silage. Granted these conditions are 

 fulfilled, it does not matter whether the silo is above or below ground. 

 It is merely a question of convenience and' economy. The framing- 

 must be rigid and strong to resist the great internal pressure, while 

 the inside must be lined with some material im])ervious alike to air 

 and mriisture. It is ])ractically impossible to build a square wooden 

 frame sufiiciently stroiig to resist the pressure without bulging in 

 some part. Very frequently they crack at the corners. A wooden 

 frame must be nuide on the same principle as a cask, the strength 

 being- secured by wdiat corresponds to the hoops. If the silo is 

 dug out below ground, it should be circular in shape, the walls 

 perpendicular, and as smooth as possible. Projecting butti-esses 

 inside, and partitions of any kind are to be avoided. Brick and 

 stone or concrete make first class silc>s, but they must be properly 

 lined, and they ;ire much more expensive. 



Probably the most satisfactory method is to build a Avood silo on 

 a brick foundation, th(> latter extending say 5 feet into the ground. 

 The wood frame and hoojis are to be erected in the way described 

 below, and will remain as permanent parts of the structure. Tht^ 

 inside lining and outside covering may be modified to suit the 

 ideas and pm'se of the proprietor. These details will be dis- 

 cussed later on. The cheapest lining is ^-wood, covered on 

 the inside with acid-proof paper. Several brands of pa])er 

 are on the market, and the thinnest will last two or three years. 

 Next to paper comes plain sheet iron, either black or galvanised. 

 This re([uires to be coated with ruberoid or suitable paint to resist 

 the acid. The iron may be substituted for the paper lining after the 

 latter has served one or two years, and the farmer is convinced of the 

 value of the silo. For the first year or two no covei'ing is needed 

 beyond a coat of tar on the outside of the lining boards, but later on 

 till' outside may be covered with weatherboards or with sheet-iron. 



in suitable localities, the cheapest of all is a good pit, the earth 

 from the excavation being used to form a bank around the top, and 

 thus increase the total depth. On many farms such a silo can be 

 prepared in a week or two, the whole cost being simply the lal)Our 

 involved, and hardwood planks for lining the u])per half. 



