PRESERVATION OF SILOS. 119 



and afterward plunged into cold water. The fire is then 

 put out by placing a tight cover over the kettle. The 

 kettle must be kept over the fire until the silo lining has 

 been gone over. A mop or a small whisk broom cut short, 

 so it is stiff, may serve for putting on the tar. 



Coal tar and gasoline have also been used by many 

 with good success. About half a gallon of coal tar and 

 two-thirds of a gallon of gasoline are mixed at a time, 

 stirring it while it is being put on. Since gasoline is 

 highly inflammable, care must be taken not to have any 

 fire around when this mixture is applied. Asbestos paint 

 has also been recommended for the preservation of silo 

 walls, and would seem to be well adapted for this purpose. 



Many silos are preserved by application of a mixture 

 of ''equal parts of boiled linseed oil and black oil, or one 

 part of the former to two of the latter. This mixture, 

 applied every other year, before filling time, seems to pre- 

 serve the lining perfectly. In building round silos, it is 

 recommended to paint the boards with hot coal tar, and 

 placing the painted sides face to face. 



Manufacturers of stave silos and fixtures put up spec- 

 ial preparations for preserving the silos, which they send 

 out with the staves. These are generally simple com- 

 pounds similar to those given in the preceding, and are 

 sold to customers at practically cost price. 



Walls of wooden silos that have been preserved by 

 one or the other of these methods will only keep sound and 

 free from decay if the silos are built so as to insure 

 good ventilation. Preservatives will not save a non-venti- 

 lated silo structure from decay. 



Plastered wooden silos are preserved, as we have 

 seen by applying a whitewash of pure cement as often as 

 found necessary, which may be every two or three years. 

 The same applies to stone and cement silos. The degree 

 of moisture and acidity in the silage corn will doubtless 

 determine how often the silo walls have to be gone over 

 with a cement wash; a very acid silage, made from im- 

 mature corn will be likely to soften the cement coating 



