ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 187 



board nailed to a stake in the ground. Hoops were then put in place, 

 being supported by the 4x6 pieces, and by a stave placed half way between 

 them, which was held to the "hoops by a staple. The holes in the 4x6 

 varied in distance apart, according to point in silo depth. The bottom one 

 was six inches from foundation, and the next 6 were 2 1 /., feet apart, with 

 the two upper spaces under the top hoop, three feet apart, the top hoop 

 being 6 inches from top. The staves were then placed in position on the 

 first half of silo, 16 feet length joining the 4x6 pieces, and alternating all 

 round with a 12 ft. length. One h alf of the lower part was first put to- 

 gether, and the hoops tightened, alter which the opposite side was com- 

 pleted. Each stave was held in place by a wire nail driven in over the 

 hoop and bent over as a hook. A good wire staple however is better. 



In putting up the second tier of staves, pieces resting on the 12 ft. 

 staves, between the 16, made a scaffolding on which to work. The 16 ft. 

 4x6 was then placed on end against the silo, with the upper end resting 

 between the same staves as the 12 feet length 4x6. A hoop was put in next 

 to the top hole, then two men at each timber raised them, hoop and all, 

 up to their places. A brace with one large nail at each end, allowed itie 

 pieces to be raised without tipping over. The bottom hoop for the top half 

 was then put in place, but not tightened. The staves were then put up as 

 in the first half; a ladder being leaned against the hoop, upon which a 

 man worked at the top line of the silo. As a matter of convenience, the 

 strip of iron was placed in the base of the upper stave, and then dropped 

 to the top of the lower stave and fitted in place. The staves could have 

 been put in place more rapidly if we had had a platform erected inside the 

 silo to work on, instead of extending across the ends of the staves. 



In putting in the upper staves, the hoops nearest to the points where 

 the staves join should be fairly loose, otherwise the upper staves cannot 

 be readily crowded in place. 



After all the staves were in p!ace, and the four hoops were drawn tight 

 enough to hold securely, the remaining hoops were put on. One man 

 stayed on a ladder inside, to drive back any stave which was too far in, 

 while another tightened up the hoops. 



