FACTS RELATING TO SILO CONSTRUCTION. 289 



in much inconvenience and loss from storms, and 

 that in cold climates much loss would result from the 

 freezing of the silage. Nevertheless, in western 

 Ontario and probably elsewhere, many stave silos 

 have been erected which have not been provided 

 with a roof. These are between the forty-third 

 and forty-fifth parallels of north latitude, and some 

 of them have been in use for several years. The 

 owners claim that no serious inconvenience or loss 

 has occurred from the causes named. The heat 

 generated in the silage seems to be sufficient, except 

 in very extreme weather, to protect the same from 

 injury by frost. When the winter climate is colder 

 than that of southern Ontario, there would probably 

 be inconvenience and loss from frost in roofless 

 silos. On the other hand, if, in the wide areas 

 further to the south, it should be found that such 

 silos meet the ends sought, it may not be necessary 

 under certain conditions to go to the expense of 

 building a roof. 



Decay in Silos. — Many of the earlier silos were 

 built of wood and lined with boards. Those built 

 of stone were also in some instances lined with wood. 

 The lining in many of them, as shown by Prof. F. 

 H. King in Bulletin No. lo of the Wisconsin Ex- 

 periment station, showed some decay at the end of 

 the second filling. It would probably be correct to 

 say that the lining in silos will decay in proportion. 

 I, As sealed dead air spaces are enclosed between 

 the linings of the walls ; 2, as stone walls are faced 

 inside with wood; 3, as inner lining boards come 

 against sills, beams or girts ; 4, as spoiled silage is 

 left piled against the lining within the silo; and 5, 



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