326 



Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



a railway sleeper, with a Hue forming part of tlie required circum- 

 ference in tlie same way as the bed plate of the overground silo was 

 set out as described above. Adze the sleepers to this curve^ and set 

 them true to the circle, as shown in Fig. 7. This circle is 2 or 4 inches 

 larger than the ])it to allow for the thickness of the vertical lining. 



Fig. 7. — Sleepers adzed to circle in position at top of pit. 



The earth is thrown out clear of the circle until the silo is exca- 

 vated the necessMry de])tli. The next step is to get the lining in 

 position before ramming the earth round it. Red gum (> x 1 or 9 x 2 

 makes the best lining, the latter being prefei-able. tSj)ike 8 of 

 the lining planks to the sleepers equal distances apart, and brace them 

 vertical. A light top plate is then adzed to the same circle as the 

 sleepers. Suitable timber for this plate is 9 x o. Nail the sections 

 of this plate lightly to ihe eight vertical planks, and then begin to 

 nail the lining in its permanent place. Keep the joints as close as 

 possible, and when the first of the temporary jilanks is reached it 

 may be necessary to take it off and ]-eplace it tight u]) to its neigh- 

 bour. Continue in this way till all the planks are in position, and 

 then ram up the earth from the outside. In this manner from 

 4 to 10 feet may he added to the depth of the pit. When finished 

 all the joints are smoothed oif with clay, and the earth walls of the pit 

 may be treated in the same way if they are not smooth. In order to 

 secure a perfectly smooth surface it is worth while lining the whole 

 pit with single-ply P. and B. paper. One or two doors may be made 

 in the superstructure in the way already described. The total depth 

 of the pit silo should be at least 18 feet. The advantages are ease 

 and economy of construction, and of filling, the chafFcutter being 

 placed over the top. The disadvantages are liability to damp and 

 the labour involved in hoisting the silage out. The first can be met 

 in most districts by placing the pit under a roof, say at one end of the- 



