SILOS AND SILAGE. 



19 



PAINTING THE SILO. 



A good coat of paint on the outside of the silo will add to the appearance and 

 length of life of a silo. When durable woods such as Douglas fir and western larch 

 are used it is not advisable to paint the inside. Painting the inside will prevent 

 the proper settling of the silage to a certain degree. 



CONCRETE SILOS; 



It has been admitted by those who have studied the subject from an impartial 

 standpoint that silage can be kept in good condition in a silo of any material, be it 

 concrete, stone, tile, or wood, if the material is properly used. Concrete silos will 

 always be popular. They are permanent, wind-proof, rodent-proof, and fire-proof. 

 A good concrete silo will remain almost indefinitely. 



There are two general methods of concrete construction, the monolithic and the 

 concrete block. With the former the materials are hauled to the site and there 

 mixed and placed within forms or curbs. With the latter the blocks are made and 

 cured at some convenient place and afterwards are hauled to the site for use in 

 the construction of the wall. 



Fig. 12. Monolithic concrete silo. 



The monolithic is usually the easier, of the two for the inexperienced to build, 

 and is usually a little cheaper than the block. Details of the construction of the 

 solid-wall monolithic follow. 



FOUNDATION. 



It is poor economy to erect a concrete silo without a substantial foundation. 

 On the selected site lay out a circle of a size at least 12 inches greater than the 

 required inside diameter. Drive a stake with a large nail on the top. Prepare a 

 sweep with a hole in one end to fit over the nail, and a sharp-pointed stick 6 inches 



