20 BULLETIN 128. 



A represents one-half inch beveled sheeting. 



B represents two by four inch stud. 



C represents one-half inch sheeting. 



D represents beveled lath. 



E represents cement clinch between laths. 



F represents cement lining 5-8 inch thick. 



G represents two by four inch sill. 



II represents stone foundation. 



I represents ground. 



The 2 by 4 studding are set 12 inches apart on a circular 

 foundation, and the 1-2 inch sheeting is nailed on horizontally 

 as shown in the illustration. The inside, including the floor, 

 is cemented, using two parts of sand to one of cement. 



Ventilation of the wall is necessary to preserve the silo. This 

 is secured by leaving a small open space at the top on the inside 

 between the lining and the plate, and boring holes near the 

 sill through the outside sheeting, covering them with gauze to 

 keep rats and mice out. 



Any roof that sheds water is suitable for a silo, as the top 

 need not and should not be tight. In fact, it is well to have a 

 small opening in the roof to provide ventilation. 



For convenience the door of the silo should be continuous, 

 extending from top to bottom. Short pieces of matched planks 

 are commonly used for a continuous door. These are put in 

 one by one as the filling of the silo progresses ; the ends being, 

 however, first covered with a paste of clayey mud to assist in 

 rendering the door air-tight. Heavy building paper tacked on 

 the inside of the door will also help to exclude the air. The 

 break or weakness in the silo wall caused by the continuous door 

 is overcome by running iron rods horizontally across the door 

 at short intervals, fastening the ends to the studding on either 

 side of the door. 



CUTTING TIIK CORN. Corn for the silo should not be cut 

 until nearly mature. This is desirable for several reasons. 

 First, and most important, is the fact that corn at maturity con- 

 tains about five times as much dry matter as it does at the 

 tasseling stage. This rapid increase in nutrients from the tas- 

 scling stage on is forcibly shown by the following figures, ob- 

 tained at the New York (Geneva), Experiment Station: 



