160 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



the most economical and sensible. It is a mere circular tank 

 of any size that may be desired, made of two-inch staves 

 fitted together as a barrel is, by beveling the joints and bind- 

 ing the staves tightly together by strong iron hoops provided 

 with screw bolts by which the bands are drawn together. 



It is an easy matter to construct a silo of this kind in 

 this way, and much better and cheaper than the ordinary 

 square or oblong one. As the principle of the construction 

 is the same under all circumstances, only this kind will be 

 described. 



This principle is that the silo must be free from moisture 

 and entirely air proof. The principle on which the silage 

 is made is that it should be packed into the silo as tightly as 

 possible, so that as little air may be included among the 

 silage as can be avoided. The silage should preferably be 

 cut into small pieces or shredded, to secure this indispen- 

 sable compactness. Under whatever circumstances a silo 

 is made, or used, these indispensable conditions must be 

 secured. 



The round or tub silo is made of narrow staves six inches 

 wide, and two thick. The edges of these are beveled to 

 the necessary angle to make an exact fit of the edges of the 

 staves, precisely as is done in making a tub or barrel. 

 It will be evident that each side of each stave should have 

 just such an angle or bevel as will fit tightly and evenly 

 along the edges. The most convenient size for keeping 

 the ensilage is fifteen feet diameter, which will make 

 it forty-five feet in circumference, or as. near this as is 

 practicable. There will then be ninety staves in the circle, 

 and as there are three hundred and sixty degrees in a circle 

 it follows that four degrees must go with each of the ninety 

 staves. This equally of course makes two degrees of bevel 

 on each edge of the stave. Any one, even if little skilled in 

 carpenter work, will be able to lay off this bevel on the edge 

 of the staves, and 1 they are then ready for setting up. 



Necessarily the foundation is of the greatest importance, 

 for this must be water and air tight. It is best made of 

 cement in the shape here shown. The foundation should be 

 dug out two feet or so but it must be made in dry ground, 

 otherwise it is well to lay two rows of drain tile across it 

 to avoid any burst of water up through the bottom. 



