i)0 .If '. ^' Tl a ANIMALS. 715 



■Cos are located with reference to convenience in feeding, in, under or adjacent 

 to the feeding-rooms. Local considerations will determine whether the silo3 

 should be below the surface or above, or partly above or partly below. This is 

 not essential. Where the stables are in the basement of a bank barn, the bottom 

 of the silo may be on the same level, or a few feet below, and the top even with 

 the upper floor. This arrangement combines the greatest faciUties for filling, 

 weighing, and feeding. 



II. Q. What form, or shape, is best for the silos? 



A. With rare exceptions the silos described show a rectangular (longer than 

 wide) horizontal section, a few have the corners cut off, and one is octagonal (8 

 square). The cylindrical (round) form seems to have obvious advantages. If 

 under ground, a cylindrical wall is self-supporting against outside pressure, and 

 may be much lighter than would be safe in any other form. If of wood and 

 above ground, the walls may be stayed with iron bands. In any case, for a 

 given capacity, the cylindrical form requires the least possible amount of wall. 

 A given weight of ensilage in a deep silo requires less extraneous pres.sure, and 

 esposes less surface to the air than it would in a shallow silo. For these rea- 

 sons depth is important. If too deep there is danger of expressing juice from 

 the ensilage at the bottom. Where the ensilage is cut down in a vertical sec, 

 tion for feeding, a narrow silo has the advantage of exposing little surface to 

 the air. 



III. Q. What dimensions, or how large, ought the silos to be? 



A. The silos reported vary in capacity from 364 to 19,200 cubic feet. Il 

 entirely full of compressed ensilage the smallest would hold 9.1 tons, and the 

 largest 480 tons, estimating 50 lbs. to the cubic foot. Practically, the capacity 

 of a silo is less to the extent that the ensilage settles under pressure. This 

 should not exceed J^l'th, though in shallow silos, or tho.se filled rapidly and with 

 little treading, it is likely to be much more. A temporary curb is sometime* 

 added to the silo proper, so that the latter may be full when the settling ceases. 



IV. Q. Of what should the walls be built — material and construction? 

 A. For walls under ground, stone, brick and concrete are used. The 



choice in any case may safely depend on the cost. In firm soils that do not 

 become saturated with water, walls are not es.sential to the preservation of ensi- 

 lage. Above ground, two thicknesses of inch boards, with sheathing paper 

 between (the latter said, by some, to be unnecessary), seem to be sufficient, if 

 supported against lateral (side) pressure from the ensilage. 



v. Q. With what, and how, should the silo be covered? 



A. A layer of straw or hay will serve in ^ome measure to exclude air, but 

 It is not necessary. Generally boards or planks are placed directly on the ensi- 

 lage. The cover is sometimes made in sections of 2 feet or more wide; oftener 

 each plank is separate. The cover is generally put on transversely, having in 

 view the uncovering of a part of the silo while the weight remains on the rest. 

 Rough boards, with no attempt at matching, have been used successfully. A 

 little space should be allowed between the walls and cover, that there may be 

 no interference as the settling progresses. 



