46 SILOS: CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE 



to the rapid growth of mold, if the cattle have some pasture 

 they will not eat as much of the silage as they otherwise 

 would. 



At all times it is important to remove the feed evenly 

 from the surface of the silage in order that no portion will 

 be exposed to the air longer than necessary, not longer than 

 a few days in winter nor longer than one day in summer. 



Excavations and Foundations. Every building should 

 rest upon a foundation broad enough to prevent appreciable 

 settling, and deep enough to rest upon earth which is never 

 disturbed by frost. Excavating all the earth to the depth 

 of the foundation increases the capacity of the silo. This 

 space, however, costs somewhat more than equal space in 

 other parts of the silo, on account of the additional labor of 

 excavation. Thus it will be seen that it is not economical 

 to extend the foundation deeper than necessary to get 

 below the frost. 



In pits 14 feet or more in diameter, it is usually most 

 economical to use a team and scraper in removing most of 

 the dirt. In the case of monolithic concrete silos, the sides of 

 the pit should be left smooth enough to serve as an outer 

 form, if the soil is of such a nature as to permit it. For 

 block silos the diameter of the pit should be such 

 that the outer part of the silo wall will come within 

 about 3 inches of the sides of the pit. This space gives room 

 to work with the trowel, and should afterwards be filled in 

 with concrete in order to protect the pit from soil water. It 

 improves the appearance of the silo to carry this concrete 

 up 8 or 12 inches above the level of the ground. This can be 

 done very well by laying up blocks temporarily about three 

 inches from the silo wall. These blocks make a very con- 

 venient form for the concrete and may be removed before the 

 concrete is set thoroughly. In the case of a stave silo, it is 



