192 INDIAN CORN CULTURE. 



CHAPTER XV. 



SILOS AND SILAGE. 



At the present day a silo is generally repre- 

 sented by a pit or room, in some cases with 

 partitions, which is filled to the top with green 

 fodder. The silo is built of stone, brick or 

 wood, and is necessarily of strong construction 

 in order to withstand the side pressure of the 

 contents, which in deep silos is very great. 



The practical use of the silo in the United 

 States really dates from 1876. Since then 

 thousands of them have been built in this 

 country arid Canada. 



Constructing a silo.— In building a silo there 

 are important points which it will be well to 

 take into consideration. It should be made 

 deep. The greater the pressure from above 

 the more the air is expelled from among the 

 silage and the better it will keep. A depth of 

 24 feet is shallow enough, and if deeper it will 

 be better still. 



The wall of the silo on the inside should be 

 smooth. If of brick or stone it should be cov- 

 ered with a coat of smooth' cement. If wood 

 is used the inside lining should have a smooth 



