132 CONCRETE OR CEMENT SILOS. 



blocks up twenty feet. I don't think now it is really 

 necessary to use the wire. 



"I had a mason to superintend making of the blocks, 

 but any one with average intelligence can make the blocks 

 as good as a mason. The main thing is to get sand and 

 cement thoroughly mixed. It does not want to be too wet, 

 just moist enough to pack good in the mold. After the 

 blocks have been made half a day or so they should be 

 wet every day; this keeps them from drying too fast and 

 from cracking. 



"I hired a mason to lay up the blocks; this is the only 

 skillful work about it, they have got to be laid up true. 

 I did not cement inside of silo. My silage spoiled some 

 around the outside. This is due to lack of moisture in the 

 silage and also in the wall. I should have wet the silage 

 and wall as the silo was filled, but was not fixed to do 

 this. 



"My silo is built S 1 /^ feet below the surface and in the 

 last 4 or 6 feet of silage there was not a forkful spoiled. 



"Two men can make 90 to 100 blocks a day after they 

 become accustomed to it, I used a wood mold which any 

 carpenter can make and will not cost over $1 or $1.50, at 

 most. 



"Now as to the doors. I used 2x6 plank for the jambs 

 and set them flush with the outside of the wall; as the 

 blocks are 8 inches thick there are two inches on inside 

 for door to set in. The doors are ship-lap double with a 

 good quality of tar paper in between, also a layer of tar 

 paper on the side that sets against the jamb. The doors 

 are 2 feet square and every 4 feet. Total cost about 

 $225.00. The cost for labor to fill it I estimate at $50.00." 



"This is a cost of nearly $2.00 per ton capacity, but 

 inasmuch as it will last a great many years it may be the 

 cheapest kind in the long run." 



