320 The Farmstead 



ends of each section are furnished with lugs, 

 that the hoop may be shortened and the silo 

 tightened with ease. The illustration (Fig. 130) 

 shows an emergency silo built of rough green 

 hemlock plank unbevelled, hooped with "Ameri- 

 can woven wire fence." It is 24 feet high, 12 

 feet in diameter, cost $35, and has a nominal 

 capacity of 50 tons. A flat board roof serves 

 to keep out the snow and most of the rain. It 

 is placed in the open to test its durability. It 

 has been in use one year, and so far it is 

 entirely satisfactory, though the staves would be 

 better if they had been beveled. 



How long will this inexpensive silo last? 

 That remains to be determined. Judging from 

 other silos of similar construction which were 

 erected several years ago, I judge it will last 15 

 or 20 years with slight repairs. When left thus 

 exposed, will the silage freeze during the winter? 

 In extremely cold weather in central New York, 

 when the thermometer drops to 10° or 15° below 

 zero, the material at the top will freeze. If 

 straw be spread over the silage to the depth of 

 a few inches, it will prevent the escape of heat 

 and freezing. A portion of the straw covering 

 is thrown back out of the way, the silage wanted 

 removed, and the covering returned. Such pre- 

 caution is only necessary (hiring a few of the 

 coldest days. 



