1907. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
385 
BUILDING AN ELM HOOP SILO. FROM MILK MAKING TO FARMING. 
Will you give me instruction on building 
sn elm hoop silo? Give me size of hoops, 
number of hoops to a 12 x 30-foot silo. Give 
full instructions from foundation to roof and 
name of lumber that will have longest life 
for inside lining. j. j. w. 
Columbiana, O. 
In the first place, the size, 12 x 30, 
would best be changed to one of better 
proportions, one 14 x 28, as it would have 
a larger “footing” and hence greater sta¬ 
bility. As to construction, you need a 
foundation of broken stone and cement 
18 feet in diameter, and something like 
eight inches thick, as the silo and contents 
will call for a 100-ton support, assuming 
that the silo is to be built outside the 
barn. For this silo, you will need 10 
hoops, nine above the sill hoop. Saw 
the hoop stuff from green elm into strips, 
five inches in width, and a thin, half inch 
in thickness. To make the hoops strike 
a circle 14 feet in diameter on the big 
barn floor, and each 18 inches nail a six- 
inch block to the floor inside and up to 
this circle. Tack one of these strips to 
the outside of a block and spring it to 
these blocks. Butt another up to the end 
of this, and so on round. Break joints 
with these strips at least three feet. Over¬ 
lay these strips with others until the hoop 
is made up of four layers. Nail second 
layer to first with four-penny nails, the 
next layer with larger ones, and th„e last 
layer with eight-penny and clinch them. 
Do not drive the nails all along in the 
center of the hoop, but here, there and 
everywhere, to give the material in the 
hoop an equal chance in the “pull.” Make 
half of the hoops of four layers, and the re¬ 
mainder of three layers each. When ready 
to build put the bottom hoop into place 
on the foundation, and bank it up on the 
outside with cement and flat stone nearly 
to its top, and slant the cement away for 
18 inches or so, for surface drainage. Cut 
some 2x4 stuff into 16-inch lengths and 
toe-nail four of them to the bottom hoop 
about 10 feet apart, and put second hoop 
on these “bridges,” and toe-nail to these 
pieces. Put on four more sticks and put 
on third hoop, then fourth the same way. 
For fifth hoop cut the four “bridges” 20 
inches long, and for each additional hoop 
put them farther apart so that ninth and 
tenth hoops will be three feet apart. You 
will need to put on stay lath and anchor 
braces to support this skeleton. Be sure 
to keep it plumb so when done it will be 
perpendicular. 
For inside lining nothing is so good as 
Georgia Pitch pine, as it will not shrink 
or swell on the walls. Use narrow stuff, 
not over three inches in width. Some 
are using chestnut flooring, using Carbo- 
lineum preservative. Put on your floor¬ 
ing perfectly true to start. Break joints 
on the hoops and mismatch so not to 
have too many joints on one hoop. If 
you can use good cut nails instead of 
wire. You will not need much staging, 
as cross boards on the hoops will be the 
best plan. Ceil round to within 20 inches 
from the start, and stop to leave man¬ 
holes. Knock out half of the “bridges” 
and nail one on each side of a manhole on 
the outside, fastening to hoops and to the 
lining as well. Set them in an inch on 
each side, so to make the manhole now 18 
inches in width, and make the door 
jambs. Make some doors that just fit 
these spaces, having them reach from the 
center of one hoop to the center of the 
one above, of course fitting them in from 
the inside. 
If you do not care for an expensive 
roof, fit in a couple of cross pieces across 
the top and lay on foot-wide boards for 
a cover. Of course a roof looks better, 
but adds nothing to the keeping proper¬ 
ties of the silo. If you do not care to 
put on an outside cover to the silo over 
the hoops, make a paint of skim-milk and 
1 ortland cement and paint the outside 
thick with it, putting a double portion on 
the top of the hoops. This will be dur¬ 
able for years and costs little. Anchor 
the silo so it cannot be rocked by the 
wind or loosened on its foundation. A 
wooden hooped silo is the cheapest and 
most _ satisfactory silo built. 
Ohio. JOHN GOULD. 
Why did we give up milk production? 
Located within three miles of a large city, 
with a farm of nearly 200 acres, 40 acres 
wood, remainder tillable, in the midst of 
producers and retailers, with a love for cat¬ 
tle, we naturally drifted into the business, at 
one time retailing our milk, but the last 
few years selling to retailers. We are 
fortunate in having a son and daughter 
at home, so we had help indoors and out 
that we could depend on. April 1, 1904, 
found us with 65 cows, about 50 always in 
milk. We had to keep four men all the 
time, and more from haying until after har¬ 
vest. Our milk had to be delivered twice 
each day, at 5.30 A. M. and about 3 P. M. 
the year through, about one mile away. It 
was very hard to get good help; we were 
obliged to put in more than 10 hours, al¬ 
though many writers claim all work on a 
farm can easily be done in that time. We 
were obliged to be in the barn at 3.30 A. M., 
going to breakfast at G A. M., working from 
7 to 11.30, then dinner and milking, usually 
going to the field about 3 P. M„ do what 
we could and get through at 6 P. M., the 
stableman having all cow chores done, and 
the other man taking care of the horses, 
my own work and the housework usually 
taking until nearly 8 p. m. This after a 
few years began to wear on the whole fam¬ 
ily The men often went into the city, and 
I used to judge by the way they came in 
what time to get up next morning. Often 
we were obliged! to get up at 2.30, and the 
good wife would get up to help milk, the 
men being too intoxicated to milk, leaving 
three of us to milk the 50 cows. It is easy 
to see that this in time would wear out 
the strongest. As labor and grain continued 
to advance our three cents per quart did 
not give satisfactory returns; in fact, we 
began to run behind, so we began to study 
how we could change to lessen the work 
and still live. After much thought and 
studying the markets we decided that there 
was no fear but we could live, as our mar¬ 
ket seemed to take all that a farmer could 
produce and still be short, so the Spring of 
1906 we disposed of all but six cows and 
three choice heifers that we had raised, 
and so far we have not regretted the move. 
IIow did we make the change from milk 
producing to just fanning? We have always 
kept poultry, and from a flock of a dozen 
or so 10 years ago we have been slowly in¬ 
creasing our account with our fowls, for the 
10 years shows that we averaged about $1 
profit for each fowl, so we decided to go a 
little deeper, and the Spring of 1906 we 
filled our three incubators with confidence, 
our poultry and the butter from our six cows 
making a commencement for a private trade. 
Everything sells, butter, eggs, poultry, but¬ 
termilk, SKim-milk, pot cheese, and we soon 
found our customers wanted vegetables and 
fruit, so by Fall we had quite a trade. We 
have set out several hundred berry canes, 
a lar~e strawberry bed and intend to set 
more, and also plums and cherries. I have 
been over the country some, and I think we 
have a fine market. Our apples last Fall 
went to a buyer; this will not happen again, 
we are also increasing our hogs, as we find 
them very satisfactory : plenty of private de¬ 
mand for good pork of 100 to 150 pounds 
weight. We now find it best to keep a few 
more cows and make butter Winter as well 
as Summer. We use low-down wagons, hay 
loader, horse forks, plow trucks and aim to 
have anvthing that will save labor. We have 
our own power silage cutter, thrasher, wood 
saws and splitting saw. We shall put in 
vegetables, sell our surplus hay and study 
how to keep up the soil without cows. We 
shall plant five or six acres of corn, using, 
we think, the best corn planter made. We 
did not make any big thing the first year, 
nor do I believe any farmer is making much 
at the present day, and let me sav that four 
of my nearest neighbors are doing as we 
have done with some difference of manage¬ 
ment. We firmly think we shall change 
to a smaller farm at the first chance to buy 
such a one suitable for fruit and garden 
work. We shall keep no help unless obliged 
to, and feel we are on the right road. <j 
Rensselaer Co., N. Y. 
Not One Cent to Pay 
to Try the Champion 
Milk Cooler-Aerator 
r We want you to try the 
Chumpion on your own farm. 
Use it ten days. Then, if you 
want it, pay for it—if not. send 
it buck at our expense and pay 
nothing. The best Milk Cooler- 
Aerator made. Soon pays its cost 
in time saved. Prevents bacte¬ 
rial growth. Keepsmi)k24to48 
hours longer. It means more 
and richer cream, butter and 
pcheese —better prices— 
more profit. We prove it 
. Free— right on your own 
| farm. \\ rite postal for catalog, prices and sizes. 
CHAMPION MILK COOLER CO. 
Ilth St. Cortland, N.Y. 
We 
take 
the risk. 
Don’t 
send 
a cent. 
Simply 
write 
us a 
Postal/j 
REID’S 
Hand 
Separators 
Lightest running! closest skimmers. 
Kasiest to care for. Guaranteed to 
do just what is claimed or money 
refunded. 89 (Jays' tree trial, if desired. 
Write for free descriptive booklet of 
Iteid Hand Separators and pricelist 
Of Dairy Supplies. 
A, H. Kkll) CO., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Lost Strayed or 
Stolen—One Gow 
That Is about what happens each year 
for the man who owns five cows and 
does not use a Tubular cream sepa¬ 
rator. He loses in cream more than 
the price of a good cow.The more cows 
he owns the greater the loss. This is a 
fact on which Agricultural Colleges, 
Dairy Experts and the best Dairymen 
all agree, and so do you if you use a 
Tubular. If not, It’s high time you 
m 
T, 
did. You can’t afford to lose the price 
Of one or more cows each year—there’s 
no reason why you should. Get a Tu¬ 
bular and get more and better cream 
out of the milk;savo time and labor and 
have warm sweet skimmed milk for the 
I calves. Don’t buy some cheap rattle- 
I trap thing called a separator; that 
won’t do any good. You need a real 
skimmer that does perfect work.skims 
clean, thick or thin, hot or cold; runs 
easy; simple in construction; easily 
understood. That’s the Tubular and 
there is but one Tubular, the Shar¬ 
pies Tubular. Don’t you want our 
little book “Business Dairymen,” and 
our Catalog A. 103both free? A postal 
Will bring them. 
The Sharpies Separator Co* 
West Chester, Pa. 
Toronto, Can. Chicago, III. 
for 1907 catalog and pries 
TODAY S 
tVhileyou're thinking about it.writeyour 
name on a postal or I n a letter say,— 
Send Your Monoy Saving 
Catalog and prloe." 
You have seen and read our ads 
dozens of times but the only fair 
and reasonable way to judge the 
DAVIS 
Improved 1907 
Cream Separator 
WITH the wonderful cone bowl, 
made so perfect it is impossible 
for it to get out of balance, is to 
get our catalog. The new 
- skimming device Is not 
equaled today. Runs easily. Every, 
tiling up to date. Skims heavy cream 
_ and to a trace. Get our 
Straight Wholesale Factory Prices 
and Save 20% to 50%. 
Our free 1907 catalog fully illustrates and explains our new 
model. Why not let us send it to you with prices todav? 
Be sure and ask for money-saving catalog No. 14 0 1 
Dsvlo Cr eam SsparatorCo., N. Clinton 8t., Chleayo. 
WORCESTER-KEMP 
MANURE SPREADER 
The Spreader Without an Equal 
THE WORCESTEK-KEMP M AN I KE 
SPREADERS equipped with new SIMPLEX 
beater drive— the greatest invention ever made 
in Manure Spreaders—belts directly from beater 
shaft with giant chain over sprocket on axle, 
doing away with all gearing, hangers and bear¬ 
ings, adding strength, preventing breakages, re¬ 
ducing draft and doing better work. The roller 
axle bearings also lighten draft. 
Worcester-Kemp Manure Spreaders have double 
floor drive, mortise-ami-tenon-framed body, 
patented, jointei tail-board—no scattering in 
going to the field. Is the perfectly up-to-date 
Manure Spreader. It is simplest to operate. 
It is fool-proof, easiest draft, best made, lias 
more years of experience behind it than any 
other and works where others fail. 
Send for Catalogue—Free to Everybody. 
THE RICHARDSON MANUFACTURING CO. 
Department A. WORCESTER, MASS. 
BANA’S EUR LABELS 
are stamped with any name or address with serial 
numbers. They are simple, practical and a distinct 
and reliable mark. Samples Free. Agents Wanted. 
C. H. DANA, 74 Main St., West Lebanon, N.H. 
The International Silo 
An Automatic-Take-Up-Hoop. Self Adjusting. 
A Continuous, Open Door Front. An Easy 
Operating, Non-Sticking Door. A Permanent 
Ladder Selected Tank Pine and Guaranteed 
Workmanship. INTERNATIONAL SILO 
COMPANY, Box 91, Jefferson, Ohio. 
SILOS 
The PHILADELPHIA, the Best on Earth 
Has the Longest Test and most in use. Continuous 
Opening from Top to Bottom. The only Opening 
Roof made. TANKS AND TOWERS. 
Ask for Price and Catalog. 
E. F. SCHLICHTER, 1910 Market St., Philadelphia, Penn. 
A GOOD SILO 
will double the profits of your dairy during 
the Fall and Winter months. I make the 
best ROUND SILO, for the price, in the 
market—no better at any price. 
Write for prices on Silos, Hopps, Lugs, Doors. 
ELMER B. LACY, : UNION. N. Y. 
DOG POWERS 
will run hand cream, 
separators, churns, 
_ fan mills, washing 
_ HARDER MFG. CO. machines etc. 
Sox II. Cobleskill. N. Y. Cheapest. 
ENSILAGE 
CUTTER 
BLIZZARD 
with wind elevator, either mounted 
lor unmounted. Cuts hay, straw, feed, 
letc. Elevates to any height. Strong. 
| durable, economical. Fully guaran- 
- 3 ^ teed. Send for new Illustrated 
catalogue FREE 
JOSEPH DICK 
AGRICULTURAL WORKS 
Box 69, Canton, 0. 
ughfs 
Saw Mills 
yOu uia OUOA 1IC«. I 
Ttlls til about big tu4 little •»« mlllf, I 
*n<i how to mtke money with them. [ 
Nine Sizes —portable and itation- 
ary. Advantage* and •eonomlee 
poueseed by no others. 
Bend for the book to-day. 
The KNIGHT Mfg. Co., 
1932 8. market 8t. t 
Canton, 0. 
THE ONLY 
ALL STEEL 
STANCHION 
3^2 Write for Prices. 
.■X~ ROCHESTER FARM SUPPLY CO.. 
3 to 9 Frank St., Rochester, N. Y. 
GREEN MOUNTAIN SILOS and MORE MILK! 
“ The two 14xS0 Green Mountain Silos I purchased of your^agent’lus't year "are 
entire satisfaction. Whatever I might say could only be in their highest praise The 
lumber and workmanship are first-class. The silage is O. K. ThisisJan 16- /" 
am getting one-third more milk, my grain bill is 60 per cent less, and cows in the finest ' 
order. I think winter dairying more profitable than summer, where Green 
Mountain Silos are used. I would advise all parties thinking of erecting 
silos to buy the Green Mountain. 
John D. Potter, Prop.; Geo. Gilman, Mgr. 
Agents for Green Mountain Silos wanted in unassigned territory. 
Write for free Catalog b 
STODDARD MFC, QQ., 
Rutland, Vt. 
DON'T BUY GA SO LINE ENGINES 
8U P e E! or t0 “ n y one-cylinder engine: revolutionizing power. Its weight and bulk are half that of slno-le nviinZT-iu 
UNTIL YOU INVESTIGATE 
__ ___ “THE HUNTER W 9 It KM AW," 
r traction 
