SILOS AND SILAGE. 



15 



the silage out ; therefore, only when the silo is on a side-hill would a pit be 

 recommended. When a pit is used, care should toe taken that the wall of the silo 

 is even with the wall of the pit, for an edge prevents the proper settling of the 

 silage. (Fig. 7.) 



Fig. 7. Correct and Incorrect methods of 

 constructing silo foundations. 



A concrete ring 14 inches in width may prove sufficient. This will allow 6 inches 

 both on the outside and the inside of the staves. Although not absolutely necessary, 

 a concrete floor will be easier cleaned, and rodents will be prevented from tunnel- 

 ling underneath the foundation and getting into the silo. Four anchors should be 

 set into the concrete for anchoring the four posts. 



POSTS AND RODS. 



For silos up to 11 feet in diameter three posts 4x4 inches are used. When 

 over 11 feet four posts are used. These posts take the place of a stave and act as 

 a framework to the silo. The first operation is to bore the holes in the posts 

 according to the spacing of the rods. The spacing of the rods increases with the 

 height of the silo. The first should be 6 inches from the bottom, and the distance 

 apart should vary from 2 feet at the base to 3 feet 6 inches at the top. The holes 

 are bored through the posts at an angle, entering the post against the stave and 

 coming out 1 inch from the stave. Iron rods % inch are used, threaded 6 inches 

 at both ends and supplied with nuts and malleable washers. The rods should be 

 purchased bent to the circumference of the silo. After the holes in the four 4x4 

 uprights are bored, they are set up and the rods are inserted. In one section of the 

 silo a number of the rods are left out in order to allow the staves to be drawn inside 

 the silo to be inserted. 



Various types of staves can be used. If full-length dressed and bevelled tongued 

 and grooved staves are used, a more permanent and satisfactory type of silo is the 

 result. Rough 2x6 staves have been used and have given good satisfaction for 

 a number of years. The small extra expense of securing dressed staves of good 

 quality will undoubtedly pay. When the less durable woods are used the practice 

 of creosoting the staves is recommended. 



INSERTING STAVES. 



It has been found cheaper and more convenient to build the scaffolding on the 

 inside of the silo rather than the outside. Scaffolding in the shape of a stool half 

 the height of the silo is usually sufficient. A short ladder can be used to reach the 

 top of the silo from the stool. To hold the staves in place, staples are driven over 

 the rods into the staves. A staple should be inserted over every alternate rod, each 

 stave alternating with the next. 



