194 INDIAN CORN CULTURE. 



Lining and floor. — The most satisfactory 

 inside lining for the walls of ^wooden silos con- 

 sists of two layers of boards with tarred paper 

 laid between. The first layer would be placed 

 horizontally against the studs, next would 

 come the paper, and last the inner layer of 

 boards nailed on vertically, smooth side out. 

 With the round form the lining ail goes on 

 horizontally. Strips one-half inch thick and 

 four to six* inches wide are placed on each 

 other tightly and so as to break joints. This 

 construction strengthens the silo, as a hoop 

 does a pail. There can be no springing out at 

 one place in the side and not at another. An 

 equal pressure extends from the center to the 

 circumference on all sides. 



It will be well to have the floor of stiff clay 

 or of cement. It is important to have it rat- 

 proof, as these pests burrow up into the silage 

 where the floor is soft and cause great damage 

 by admitting air into it. 



Walls. — The walls of wooden silos remain 

 sound longest when they are well ventilated. 

 Where they are tightly boxed up moisture ac- 

 cumulates within and decay occurs. Auger 

 holes bored between studs at bottom give suffi- 

 cient ventilation if there are openings at top of 

 wall. All these holes or openings should be 

 covered with wire netting to keep out rats and 

 mice. The studs must be strong enough to 



