Danger in Filling Silos. 427 



Using these data the inside diameter of cylindrical silos 

 24 feet and 30 feet deep which will hold feed enough for 

 different numbers of cows may be computed and such re- 

 sults are given in the preceding table. 



528. Danger in Filling Silos It never should be forgot- 

 ten in connection with the filling of silos, that carbon diox- 

 ide is generated very rapidly tho first few days after sil- 

 age is put into the silo, and it sometimes happens if the 

 air is very still over night, and if the surface of 

 the silage is a considerable distance below any door, that 

 carbonic acid accumulates in sufficient quantity over the 

 silage to make it impossible for a man to live in it. Cases 

 are on record where people have been suffocated by going 

 into a silo under these conditions. If the doors in a silo are 

 so close together that a man standing on the silage will have 

 his head above an open door the carbonic acid gas will flow 

 out of the door and not accumulate to such an extent as to 

 be injurious. 



In cases where the silage is below any opening far enough 

 to leave a man's head below the opening care should be 

 taken not to go into the silo in the morning after fillinc 1 has 

 begun until after the machinery has been started. After the 

 silage has been dropping into the silo for a few minutes it 

 will stir the air up sufficiently to render it pure enough for 

 a man to work in it without danger. Ordinarily the air 

 currents outside are sufficiently strong to prevent the car- 

 bonic acid from accumulating, but it should be kept in 

 mind that it is possible on still nights for this accmnula- 

 lation to take place. 



