FACTS RELATING TO SILO CONSTRUCTION. 273 



cost, because of its shape. The objections to the 

 rectangular as well as to the square silo are, first, 

 that difficulty has oftentimes been found in keeping 

 the walls from spreading, and so letting air into the 

 silage, and second, that the silage does not settle so 

 readily in either of these forms of silo as in a round 

 silo, hence there is more waste in the silage. Par- 

 ticularly is this true of the corners. Notwithstand- 

 ing these objections, rectangular silos will probably 

 be built for many years to come, hence the method 

 of building them will in due time be given with 

 some minuteness in details. And what will be said 

 of the construction of rectangular silos will also 

 apply to the construction of square silos. 



The octagonal silo as the name implies is a silo 

 with eight sides. The chief advantage gained in 

 this form of construction, as compared with the 

 square or rectangular silo is found in the less acute 

 character of the angles within the same. Also from 

 the nature of their construction, the walls are so 

 strong that they are not liable to spread, at least, 

 not in a silo of, ordinary dimensions. Moreover, 

 some saving in lumber is effected by increasing the 

 space between the girts from the bottom upwards. 

 But there are two strong objections to this form of 

 silo. First, it is ill adapted to being placed within a 

 building because of its shape, and second, the ven- 

 tilation of the spaces within the walls is difficult, 

 because of the peculiar construction of the frame. 

 The lining is nailed onto girts rather than onto up- 

 right studs, and these girts being horizontal when 

 in position in the wall, give rise to the difficulty 

 mentioned. Because of these objections, it is not 

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