158 SILOS 



farmer who has had no experience in concrete work 

 should secure the assistance of some one who has had 

 such experience before attempting to build a concrete 

 silo. Cement blocks may be bought in all parts of the 

 country, and they enable a farmer to put up a silo in a 

 few days, at moderate cost. 



The two things to be especially regarded in building the 

 concrete silo are to have an abundance of iron for rein- 

 forcement and sufficient cement in the mixture to make 

 the walls impervious to air. It is a good plan to go over 

 the inside wall of a concrete silo each year, or at least 

 every second year, before filling with a mixture of cement 

 and water. The mixture should be about the consistency 

 of whitewash. This helps to close up the pores of the 

 wall and to exclude the air. If a concrete silo stands 

 empty during the summer, the walls become very dry. 

 When the moist silage is put in, the walls absorb the 

 moisture from the silage. This may result in white 

 mould forming near the outer edge. This condition, 

 when present, indicates that the concrete has been made 

 too porous. The trouble may be avoided, in case the wall 

 has been made too porous, by applying the cement and 

 water mixture as described. It is also well, where the 

 concrete has been made too porous, to wet the walls with 

 water as the silage is put in, to prevent the absorption of 

 water from the silage. 



The forms for building a concrete silo cost about $50. 

 It is desirable for a number of farmers to club together 

 and build the forms. One set of forms may be used for 

 several silos, and in this way the cost of construction can 

 be reduced. 



