New Y(jiiK Agricultukal Experiment Station. 053 



circular fiaiue about G feet in diameter being sawed out of pieces 

 of 2 X 8-inch plank and the roof boards nailed to this and to the 

 plate. A cupola of some sort is considered essential to good 

 ventilation. 



Freezing and Ventilation. 



As a protection against freezing the outer (covering of the silo 

 is necessary. In exposed locations this co\eiring should be 

 thick, for frozen silage cannot be safely fed in any large amount. 

 Silage of the better quality made from the drier and riper corn 

 seems less liable to freeze than that of poorer quality made from 

 more immature corn. For securing ventilation behind the inner 

 lining, to prevent its rapid decay, holes are bored through the 

 outer siding between the studs, just above the sill, as shown in 

 Figure 3. These holes are covered with coarse wire cloth to keep 

 out rats and mice. The inner lining is not carried quite to the 

 plate, the opening at the top being also covered with the wire 

 cloth or screen to keep silage from falling in. 



An efficient round silo could probably be constructed of staves 

 — one, at least, successful silo of this style has been reported — 

 but first-class sound lumber, not less than two inches thick, 

 would have to be used, and there would be difficulty in having 

 suitable openings. Emptying all from the top would be decid- 

 edly inconvenient. 



Cost op Silos. 



The cost of the silo would be affected by many varying local 



« 



conditions, and ]>i'ices for labor and material. The estimates for 

 rectangular silos can be readily made by different builders. 

 Square silos, built in the barn, without roofs, holding 100 tons, 

 have been estimated to cost less than |160. Some other esti- 

 mates have placed the cost considerably higher. A round silo, 

 about 20 feet in diameter and 30 feet deep, holding abont 180 

 tons, will probably cost in this state from |300 to $350. King 

 estimated tint cost of a rectangular silo, holding 200 tons, at 

 about |425, and of a round silo, holding (he same amonnt, at 

 about $247. A stone one of this capcity costs about $500. 



