FACTS RELATING TO SILO CONSTRUCTION. 28 1 



more deeply than the floor of the silo. And the 

 wall up to the surface should be of stone whatever 

 may be the materials used in the structure above 

 the ground. If the wall is carried up for a short 

 distance above the surface of the ground, and is then 

 banked with earth it will be better protected from 

 surface water. The aim should be to keep the wood 

 portion of silos away entirely from contact with the 

 earth lest decay should be induced. The founda- 

 tion is usually made wider than the structure which 

 it sustains, but not in all instances. The precise 

 character of the foundation for the different forms 

 of silos discussed will be explained when treating of 

 these. (See Pages 297, 310 and 318.) 



Floors in Silos. If the earth that forms the 

 floor of a silo is dry all the year, no other floor is 

 needed unless rats should begin to make trouble. If 

 there is a liability to the presence of an undue 

 amount of moisture, measures must be taken to 

 carry it away, or much damage will result to the 

 silage. Tiles may be laid around inside the silo and 

 at some distance from the wall. Provision must 

 then be made for carrying away the water that col- 

 lects in these through some outlet which leads to 

 lower ground. And where grout and cement floors 

 are made in silos, the necessity for drainage is all 

 the greater in order to protect the floors as well as 

 the silage. In silos built on the level, drainage is 

 not usually necessary. And in many instances it 

 will be found that the drainage made to protect the 

 wall will also furnish sufficient drainage for the 

 floor of the silo. 



When it is thought best to put in a floor, the 



