GRAIN STORAGE 



framing which will have to withstand the lateral pressure; 

 and as a matter of fact, 75 per cent of the failures of build- 

 ings of this kind are due to the bursting or racking of the 

 walls because of insufficient rigidity. In the early days 

 when lumber and labor were cheaper and many temporary 

 structures were made, light framing consisting entirely of 

 2x4/5 or 2x6's served its purpose satisfactorily enough, 

 though the depreciation was rapid and the effective life was 

 seldom more than 12 or 15 years. It is to be deplored that 

 this practice still obtains in many instances. Modern econ- 

 omy and efficiency should have changed this condition be- 

 fore now, "but unfortunately practically the same framing is 

 being used today as was used forty years ago, and it lasts 

 only about as long. 



Construction stronger and more durable than that in 

 ordinary buildings erected for shelter is necessary in the 

 case of cribs and granaries, which perhaps more than any 

 other farm buildings are subjected to hard usage. A few 

 of the principles and practices employed in barn building 

 can be applied very advantageously in the construction of 

 buildings for grain. Heavy stock of 6x6 or 6x8 stuff mor- 

 tised and tenoned together will provide a framework for the 

 walls which will give excellent and satisfactory support. 

 Lighter stuff can be used in conjunction with the heavy stuff 

 as will be indicated in the subsequent plans. Particular at- 

 tention must be given to crossties and braces to prevent the 

 bulging of posts and studs. Adequate support must also 

 always be provided for overhead beams. 



Walls. The walls of granaries are usually made of ship- 

 lap, either 6, 8 or 10 inches wide, or better of German or 

 novelty siding or of drop siding. Plain square edged boards 

 are sometimes used to wall up granaries, but this is inad- 

 visable since shrinkage cracks between the boards are sure 

 to appear and a certain amount of the grain will be lost. 

 Nailing for the boards should be provided at intervals not 

 to exceed 2^ feet in order to prevent bulging of the boards 

 themselves ; it is better to have the intervals 2 feet than 2 l / 2 

 feet. lod wire nails are commonly used for nailing the 

 boards to the studding and two nails should be used at each 

 point. 



Corn cribs are usually sided with 1x6 fencing or 

 beveled siding, a i-inch space being left between adjacent 

 boards to provide for ventilation. The siding is usually 



Six 



