20 THE BOOK OF ENSILAGE. 



work of laborers 149 days, and 34 days' work of 

 horse. Putting up the frame to hold the plank took two 

 carpenters two days. It required 124 barrels of cement, 

 costing- $1.25 per barrel in Lowell. The teaming of the 

 cement and lumber is included in the above account of 

 time of horses and laborers. The cost of the whole 

 structure will of course vary in different locations, as the 

 cost of labor and materials varies. 



My Silos (capacity about 800,000 pounds) cost me 

 about $500. In other words, Silos will cost about one 

 dollar and a quarter for each ton's capacity. Large ones 

 will cost less, small ones more. The following diagram 

 illustrates my Silos. 



Silos may be built of stone pointed with cement mor- 

 tar and plastered on the inside, or of brick, or of con- 

 crete as mine are. Whichever material is the cheapest 

 and most convenient in any locality is the best to use 

 there. Brick will cost more than the concrete. Con- 

 crete wall costs about ten cents per cubic foot. 



As a general rule, Silos should be built rectangular in 

 form, the width being about one-third the length, and 

 the height about two-fifths of the length, and if possible 

 should be sunk about one-half below the surface of the 

 ground. 



If there is a side hill near the stables, so that the 

 surface of the earth will come nearly to the top of the 

 walls at one end of the Silos, it will be found very con- 

 venient in filling the Silos, in weighting the Ensilage, 

 and in removing the weights as it is fed out. 



These walls must be built sufficiently strong to with- 

 stand when empty the pressure of the earth inward, as 

 well as the pressure outward, caused by the settling of 

 the Ensilage under the superimposed weights placed 

 upon it. 



