SILOS AND SILAGE. 



763 



Size to Build. 



With regard to the capacity of the circular silo, it is said that the quantity 

 to he taken out varies very much according to the amount of succulence, 

 moisture, or water there is in the crop when it is put in. 



The weight of a cuhic foot of good silage in the silo is ahout 35 lb., and 

 undoubtedly this will be the case with the exception of, say, 4 feet from 

 the top, if it is properly trampled down when filling, but if this be 

 neglected the amount per cubic fool will be considerably less. 



The following table of approximate capacity will afford a good idea of 

 what size to build: — 



The capacity given represents the number of tons of silage that will be in 

 the silo after all shrinkage has occurred. 



The Concrete Block Silo. 



The cheapest form of concrete silo is that built of concrete blocks or large 

 concrete bricks. These are most expeditiously made with a block-making 

 machine, but a home-made mould may be constructed with wood and plain 

 iron, which, though slower in turning out the blocks or bricks, will be found 

 quite satisfactory, especially to the farmer who makes up his mind to make 

 the blocks a few at a time on otherwise slack days. Working quietly on 

 these lines it is possible for a farmer to collect, at a minimum of expense, 

 the necessary material for a structure that will be a valuable asset on his 

 farm, and a cheap insurance against periods of scarcity. 



The machine for making the blocks at present costs £60 at least, but with 

 a man and a boy a hundred blocks can be turned out in a day. The best 

 type of machine is that which turns out the block face downwards ; this 

 allows for a better class of material being used on the face for weathering 

 purposes. With a home made mould not more than twenty blocks per day 

 can be finished. 



The shape of the block referred to is shown on the third page <>f plans, 

 and the mould may be .simply a four-sided box, with the necessary cores to 

 form the two holes. These holes in the blocks not only economise in 

 concrete material, but form a cavity in the walls, which acts as an 

 insulation. 



Specification. 

 Concrete lUock Silo. Height 25 feet, diameter 16 feet. 



Material. — The mixture used may be sand and cement for the face (3 <>f sand to 1 of 

 cement) tamped into a mould about 5 inch thick ; for the remainder, .") of gravel and 

 sand to 1 of cement. About sixty to sixty-seven blocks are made from a cubic yard, 

 and 1,676 blocks, including eighteen halves, are required to build a silo. 



