BULLTIN No. 143 



[February, 



meet the requirements of a barn for this purpose, it became im- 

 perative to build one that was convenient for feeding and caring 

 for the cows, economical of construction, and containing a large 

 storage capacity in both silo and mow. These are the requirements 

 of a barn for every practical dairyman. 



A silo was needed that could be fed from the year round. With 

 the small number of cows kept, a deep enough layer of silage could 

 not be fed off each day to keep it good thru the summer, if the 

 silo was more than 12 feet in diameter. As this small diameter 

 was a necessity, it would require two silos 33 feet, deep to supply 

 enough silage. Two silos of such small diameter would not only 

 be costly, but difficult to make stand, unless built of concrete. This 

 difficulty was overcome by using the circular barn and placing in 

 the center a silo which is 12 feet in diameter and 54 feet deep, thus 



FlG. 2. FlUJNG THE SIlvO. 



making the one silo, with as much capacity as the two before men- 

 tioned, answer every purpose. This deep silo is an important part 

 of the round barn, as it not only forms a support for the roof, but 

 is protected by the barn, thus saving the cost of siding. Then, 

 too, besides occupying the space least valuable for other purposes, 

 it being centrally located, is in the most convenient place for feed- 

 ing. The silage chute being open at the top forms a suction of air, 

 which keeps the silage odor from the barn at milking time, and 

 also assists in ventilation when the door to the chute is open. 



