Silo Construction in Nebraska 



11 



When silage ferments, which is during the first two weeks that 

 it is in the silo, carbon dioxide gas is thrown off. This gas is 

 heavier than air and is transparent. As it is heavier than air, it 

 settles to the lowest place and stays there unless carried away 

 by air currents or some other means t As a consequence, if the 

 silo is partly filled and left standing a few days there is danger 

 of enough gas accumulating in the silo to suffocate people. As a 



Fig. 2. Semi-pit silo on Chase Farm, Pawnee City, Nebr. 



precaution it is always well to start the cutter and let it run five 

 or ten minutes before anyone enters the silo. If the silo is open, 

 so that the wind currents can blow into the top of it, these cur- 

 rents will carry away all the poisonous gases so that there will 

 be no danger. 



In the winter time when the silo is being used there is no 

 danger, because the gas does not form in quantities at that time, 



