162 Concrete Silos 



pose, but a dormer window with glass is preferable. 

 Some light should be admitted to the silo for if not it 

 will be necessary to use a lantern when removing the 

 silage. 



The pitch of the silo roof may vary from one- 

 quarter to one-half. The steeper roof permits the silo 

 to be filled above the top of the wall so as to be nearly 

 full after settling. A flat roof does not permit the 

 silage to be elevated to a point high enough to do this, 

 does not give the workman room for work during 

 filling, and does not shed the snow like a steeper roof. 



.While roofs of various types are used with concrete 

 silos, it is most desirable that the roof be of concrete, 

 thus making this part of the silo as durable as ny 

 other. 



In some systems, special roof forms are provided ; 

 but where there are not obtainable a concrete roof can 

 be laid 4 inches thick over a temporary wooden form, 

 which will be left in place two or three weeks. The 

 concrete should l be reinforced with steel rods %-inch in 

 diameter. Some of the rods are laid like the spokes of 

 a wheel, 1-inch from the under side of the roof. At the 

 eaves the rods are 18 inches apart ; but every other rod 

 runs only half-way to the peak, where it is tied to a 

 horizontal ring extending entirely around the roof. 

 There are four of these horizontal rings equally spaced 

 from the eaves to the center of the roof. Where the 

 straight or radial rods meet at the peak they should be 

 hooked and securely tied together. In the eaves an 

 additional ring is placed, around which are hooked the 

 outer ends of the straight rods. 



Eaves on a concrete roof are not absolutely neces- 

 sary, but add much to the appearance of the silo. 



