THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION. 287 



Brick Silos. 



Where brick may be secured at a reasonable price, it may 

 be used for silo construction with good results. Several brick 

 silos were investigated and as a whole they were very satis- 

 factory. The chief trouble with their erection seemed to be with 

 the reinforcement. Attempts to build silos without any rein- 

 forcement resulted in failures as far as investigated. The solid 

 wall brick silo is not much if any better than the stave silo as far 

 as protection from freezing is concerned. The wall is usually 

 eight inches thick and reinforced by hoops or bands on the out- 

 side or in the mortar joint. The oldest brick silos found in Iowa 

 were erected in 1903 and are now giving very satisfactory 

 service. The doors were arched, dispensing with the use of 

 wooden frames. 



The Christensen Silo. 



This silo was invented by Mr. J. P. Christensen. The patent 

 pertains to the system of reinforcing and its combination with 

 a continuous door opening. It is a single or four inch wall silo, 

 partially protected by its location in a valley and by the surround- 

 ing buildings and gives little trouble with the freezing of silage. 

 In order to prevent freezing more fully, the complete design 

 of this silo calls for a double wall. There is a restricted circula- 

 tion of air which prevents a serious loss of heat. Horizontal 

 air spaces are separated by the header courses about two feet 

 apart with a small opening in alternate courses each side of the 

 doors and others in intervening courses at the opposite side of 

 the silo from the door. For exceptionally cold climates, a fire 

 place is provided from which the smoke and heat pass up through 

 the ventilating flues. This silo gives excellent satisfaction. The 

 cost will, of course, depend upon the price of brick and wages 

 paid for masons. 



Mr. Christensen gives the following estimate of the cost 

 of silos without roof based upon brick costing $8 per thousand, 

 masons $4 per day, and helpers at $2 per day. 

 Single Wall Silos : 



