186 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



surface. For the top of wall for a few inches below the surface level, 

 Portland cement and no lime was used. Owing to the slope of the ground 

 the top of the foundation on one side was three inches above the surface, 

 and on the other 18 inches. Large stones, laid by a mason in Portland 

 cement and sand, one to three, completed the foundation. On top of this 

 was placed a circle of oak inch thick boards, two thick lapped to break 

 joints, and sawed so as to lay to form a circle a scant 12 feet in diameter 

 on the inside. These one by six pieces were nailed together and laid in 

 cement to form a smooth base for resting the staves on. 



White pine staves were used, dressed on four sides and with each edge 

 bevelled 1-16 inch. The staves were of two lengths — 12 and 16 feet and five 

 inches wide on the outside and dressed down to about 1% inch thick. When 

 y the staves were in place, the 12 and 16 foot-lengths alternated, one of each 

 length butting together to form a silo 28 feet deep. The ends were held 

 together by a strip of galvanized iron 2x5 inches, which was placedMn a 

 notch for the purpose sawed in the ends of the butting staves. 



Ten hoops made of % round iron, with % inch ends threaded eight 

 inches, were used, the ends being welded on the rods, being of course 

 made from large size rod. These hoops cost $1.00 each, complete, and 

 were in two parts, to faciliate tightening. As a support for the hoops, at 

 two points on opposite sides of the siio and joining the staves, and thus 

 forming a part of the circle, was placed a 4x6 piece, with the narrow aha' 

 beveled side against the silo circle. Through the projecting four inches 

 of this 4x6, at proper intervals, were bored holes through which the ends 

 of the hoops were passed. 



The hoops were bent to the curve of the sill, by placing the rod on a 

 curved piece of oak, following the curve of foundation, and bending to 

 line of curve by striking with back o f a heavy maul. 



The erection of the stave silo will depend somewhat on local condi- 

 tions — whether in a barn, closely adjacent to it on the outside, as in our 

 case, or some distance from it, say 25 feet or more. 



We first placed the two 12 ft. 4x6 pieces in position, toe-nailing lightly 

 the end resting on the wooden sill, and bracing the upper end with a 



