CHAPTER XIII 

 THE PIT SILO 



Instead of being built above ground, as is the ordi- 

 nary fashion, a silo may consist of a hole excavated in 

 the earth and plastered with cement mortar. This is 

 known as the Pit Silo. 



This type of silo has apparently but one advantage, 

 and that is the advantage of cheapness. A pit silo is 

 not to be considered as a permanent improvement. If 

 it is necessary to put in a temporary expedient, how- 

 ever, as is the case of a tenant on a farm, who would 

 in many cases not be justified in going to the expense 

 of building a permanent silo, the pit silo will do very 

 well. In fact it will fulfill its purpose much better 

 than the wood silo, the only other type of construction 

 which would be considered under such circumstances, 

 and is usually much cheaper as well. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that it is not 

 practicable to build pit silos in all localities. They 

 can be built to advantage only in soil which has a low 

 water level, so as to preclude the possibility of damp- 

 ness in the silo. 



The depth of 20 feet is considered about the limit 

 of practicability for such a silo in any event because of 

 the difficulty of removing the silage; but it should not 

 go to this depth if there is a possibility of striking 

 water. Of course it would be possible to seal a structure 

 effectually against moisture, even at a considerable 

 head ; but this would be an expense which such a struc 

 ture would not justify, it being much better to expend 

 the money on an above-ground silo. 



(97) 



