10 INTRODUCTORT. 



closest investigation. In the early days of the hlstoryVQf.^the 

 silo movement it was thought necessary to make exaggerated 

 claims, but this is no longer the case. , Naked facts are sufficient 

 to secure for the silo a permanent place among the necessary 

 equipment of a modem dairy or stock farm. In discussing the 

 silo we shall keep close to what has been found out at our experi- 

 ment stations, and, we believe, shall be able to prove to any fair- 

 minded reader that the silo is the greatest boon that has come 

 to modern agriculture since the first reaper was manufactured, 

 and that vith competition and resulting low prices, it will be 

 likely to become more of a necessity to our farmers in the future 

 than it has been in the past. We aim to convince our readers 

 that the most sensible thing they can do is to plan to build a silo 

 at once if they do not now have one. It is unnecessary to argue 

 with those who are already the happy possessors of a silo, for 

 it is a general experience where a farmer has only provided for 

 immediate wants in building his silo that he will build another as 

 soon as he has had some experience with silage and finds out how 

 his stock likes it, and how well they do on it. 



The life of the silo should always be carefully considered in 

 connection with its Initial cost. A silo might be built for $150 

 which would last ten years, the cost exclusive of upkeep being $15 

 a year. With the use of better materials or construction on the 

 same size silo its life might be increased to twenty years at an 

 additional outlay of perhaps $50, which it will be readily seen is 

 much cheaper per year. Quality usually goes hand In hand with 

 price and the farmer who can afford it should not make the mis- 

 take of building anything but the best If he wishes to economize 

 to greatest advantage. 



Modern practice has proved that no man need say "I cannot 

 afford a sUo," because any farmer who is at all handy with ham- 

 mer and saw can provide a silo large enough for moderate re- 

 quirements with very little actual outlay of money, and this same 

 built-at-home silo will earn for its owner money to build a better 

 one and enlarge his herd. Directions for building several kinds 

 of such silos are given in the following pages. It must not be 

 expected that they will last as long or will prove as economical 

 in the long run as more substantlally-bullt factory-made silos, 

 still they give excellent service until the farmer can afford to 

 put up a structure of better quality. Experience in making and 



