WOOD SILOS 25 



ficient strength to prevent the silage from bursting it. Gen- 

 erally one thickness of siding was placed outside, and two 

 or three thicknesses with tar paper between were placed inside. 

 This construction is plainly shown by Fig. 3, taken from an 

 early Wisconsin bulletin. H. B. Gurler, of DeKalb, Illinois, 

 substituted lath and plaster for the inner sheathing of the 

 Wisconsin silo. It was originally designed for use inside of 

 the barn and Has been more successful there than outside. 

 This silo has been quite popular, especially in Illinois. In 

 recent years the quality of lumber found on the market has 

 decreased considerable, so that it is now difficult in many 

 localities to secure at a reasonable cost such quality of lum- 

 ber as can be bent for circular sheathing. 



The Wood Hoop Silo originated in the western part of 

 New York, and is shown in Fig. 4. The first silo of this 

 type that the author has been able to learn of was built in 

 1894, by J. T. Wells, a builder and contractor of Scottsville, 

 New York, and had a continuous door. This silo has several 

 advantages over the Wisconsin silo in that the sheathing is 

 not circular and only enough lumber is bent around to pre- 

 vent the silo from bursting open. Common flooring is used 

 for sheathing and is nailed vertically on the inside. Where 

 better work is desired, it is also sheathed on the outside ; this 

 gives a hollow wall. The silo is nailed together so that, as 

 in the case of the Wisconsin and Gurler silos, there is nothing 

 to tighten or loosen at any time. It is made entirely of 

 standard lumber. If necessary the hoops can be made of 

 weather boarding. Braces are placed between the hoops for 

 jambs, and at the door 2-inch material is placed vertically 

 between the hoops. The hoops are generally placed 3 feet 

 apart, and all are of such size that the pressure will be taken 

 care of. Fir, white pine, or cedar siding may be depended 

 upon to withstand a pull of from 1400 to 1800 pounds per 



