COVERING THE SILOED FODDER. 185 



necessary -svith other kinds, of machinery, such as threshing 

 machines, grinding mills, etc. 



In setting a Blower Machine it is necessary to have the 

 pipe as nearly perpendicular as possible, so that the current of 

 air within the pipe will lift the material. This is especially 

 true where the pipe is long, say 20 feet or more, because the 

 green fodder being heavy will settle down on to the lower side 

 of the pipe, if this has much slant, and the wind blast will pass 

 over the fodder, thus allowing it to lodge, whereas if the pipe be 

 perpendicular, or nearly so, no stoppage will occur. It is also 

 necessary to see that full speed is attained before beginning to 

 feed the machine, and also to stop the feeding while the machine 

 is in full motion so that the Blower will have an opportunity 

 to clear itself before shutting off the power. 



There must be ample vent in the silo to prevent back pres- 

 sure, as the tremendous volume of air forced into the silo with 

 the put fodder must have some pieans of escape. 



If these few points are kept in mind, there can be no possible 

 doubt as to the successful operation of the Blower Elevator; 

 and, as previously stated, there Is absolutely no doubt as to their 

 superiority for elevating silage. Scores of Silver's "Ohio" Blower 

 Machines are in successful use in all parts of the country. 



(N. B. At the end of this volume will be found illustrations 

 and descriptions of several sizes and styles of Silver's "Ohio" 

 Silage Cutters, which the readeE_can refer to, in addition to the 

 illustration given here.) 



Danger from Carbonic Acid Poisoning in Silos. — As soon as 

 the corn in the silo begins to heat, carbonic acid 'gas is evolved, 

 and if the silo is shut up tight the gas will gradually accumulate 

 directly above the fodder, since it is hea.vier than air and does 

 not mix with it under the conditions given. If a, man or an 

 animal goes down into this atmosphere, there is great danger of 

 asphyxiation, as is the case under similar conditions in a deep 

 cistern or well. Poisoning cases from this cause have occurred 

 in filling silos where the filling has been interrupted for one or 

 more days, and men have then gone into the silo to tramp 

 down the cut corn. If the doors above the siloed mass are left 

 open when the filling is stopped, and the silo thus ventilated, 

 carbonic acid poisoning cannot take place, since the gas will 

 then slowly diffuse into the air. Carbonic acid being without odor 



