40 
CONCRETE SILOS 
greatly simplifies the work of filling the silo and does away with much 
of the tramping. The operator is simply required to guide the mouth of the 
tube, and the material descends with sufficient force to pack it nicely, 
making a minimum amount of tramping necessary. 
It is common practice to fill the silo as rapidly as possible, that is, 
keeping the cutter and blower busy continually. This is the only eco- 
nomical method where the engine and cutter are rented, or hired 
Economy of j^bor depended upon. However, if these considerations do not 
^iln"Ram\lIu enter in, there is no objection to filling the silo gradually, so long 
as fresh silage is put in before mold is formed on the surface of 
that previously placed. , , . , , ^ ^^ 
During the process of filling all doors above the height ol the silage 
should be left open for the purpose of letting out the carbonic acid gas which 
is given off and after the silo is completely filled it should not be entered 
for at least 48 hours. 
When the filling is finally completed, the top should be wet down at 
the rate of about one gallon of water per square foot of surface, and thor- 
oughly tramped. This aids greatly in compacting the silage near 
Silage^ ^°P' reducing the depth of the spoiled material on the sur- 
face. . 
Condition of crop, length of haul from the field to the silo, size of silo, 
method of harvesting and the cost and arrangement of labor are all ele- 
ments which affect the cost of filling a silo. Farmers' Bulletin 
Filfina Department of Agriculture, says: "In many cases a 
' poor arrangement of help is responsible for extra expense. It 
Concrete Silo on C. J. Float's farm, 12 by 36 feet, 
built by Conklin Contracting Co., Hartford, 
Michigan. Concrete silos are becoming popular 
in Michigan. 
Home-made Concrete Silo on farm of George 
Wood, Woodville, New York. This is an excel- 
lent type of silo built by the owner, using com- 
mercial steel forms. 
