1909. 
158 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The city man who buys a farm and tries to run it 
for profit learns more about the business side of 
farming than he could learn in six years at an agri¬ 
cultural college. We talked with such a man the 
other day. “Why,” said he, “I had no idea it re¬ 
quired so much thought to run a farm.” He had 
the idea which many people get that about all you 
had to do was to put the seed in the ground and let 
it grow to the harvest. This man is a manufacturer, 
and can figure ahead definitely on the wood and 
metal which he uses. He finds there is no such cer¬ 
tainty on the farm, for there he is dealing with 
living materials which are changed and affected by 
dozens of things which cannot touch his manufac¬ 
turing business. That man has gained great respect 
for a farmer who can make a home and raise a 
family on the income from a farm. If. we had 
more of this sort of education town and city people 
would soon realize what they owe to the farm and 
the farmer. 
THE CEMENT BLOCK SILO. 
Some time ago a question came from a R. N.-Y. 
reader, asking about the practicability of tbe cement 
block round silo, to which I replied that I had no 
accurate knowledge concerning them, except that I 
knew the Wisconsin Experiment Station had erected 
a silo and thought well of it. Recently I was at 
Cedarville, Ohio, and found these silos were made 
in the town, and that one was on a farm a little 
way out of the village. There is another about 12 
miles distant on tbe farm of Herbert Bell, Spring- 
field, Ohio. This one is 40 feet high and 14 feet 
across, and has been standing two years. It would 
appear as if it would stand a long time. Pictures 
of both are shown in Figs. 62-63. The blocks for 
the latter were made on the ground, and the silo 
erected by the owner, so I was not able to get the 
total cost, including labor and all material. 
The one at Cedarville, on the farm 
of Mr. Jesse Tousley, is 28 feet high 
above the foundation, which goes four 
feet in the ground, and 14 feet across. 
Between the foundation and the roPf 
the contract price was $285. This in¬ 
cluded everything except the sand, 
which Mr. Tousley furnished. It was 
plastered on the inside with cement, 
which I hardly think necessary. The 
silage was fine, and the owner said 
he was more than pleased with it. The 
rough-faced blocks made a structure 
that was an ornament to the place. , By 
looking closely at the picture of the 
smaller silo oue may see in the front 
a set of iron steps extending from 
about 10 feet from the ground to the 
top. These were set .in the masonry as 
it was put up, and do away with the 
necessity of anything but a short lad¬ 
der in putting up the machinery for 
filling. With the steps that distance 
from the ground no one will be able to 
climb up at other times and fall, as a 
child might be tempted to, if they were 
within reach. 
The blocks were made by J. M. Mac- 
millin, of Cedarville, through whose 
kindness I am indebted for the pictures 
and much valuable information. To 
make the blocks a model frame or 
mold and a mixer is necessary. This ma¬ 
chine can be secured from the manu¬ 
factories at a moderate cost. For ordi¬ 
nary buildings five parts of Portland 
cement to one of sharp sand is recom¬ 
mended ; but Mr. Macmillin used four 
to one for the silos. He said he now 
thought the ordinary proportions would 
be strong enough if the blocks were 
properly made and seasoned. They are 
20 inches long, 8 inches high and 8 
inches across, with a four-inch hollow 
space in the center; but across this 
space there is a two-inch bridge of 
cement. In Mr. Tousley’s silo there 
are about 1,200 blocks, 39 courses, with 
one-quarter inch cement between. It 
took three men eight days to make 
•them, and three men and a mason six 
days to set them up, .including the der¬ 
rick and scaffolding. The blocks were 
made in a shed, left there a week to 
dry, and then put out of doors three 
weeks to “cure.” This is very neces¬ 
sary in order that they may become 
thoroughly hardened, and any that 
crack or show defects may be dis¬ 
carded. Hence it is apparent that such 
a structure should be begun and put up 
early in the season. On the top of the outside of 
each third layer of blocks there is a groove in the 
cement, in which was run a number nine black wire, 
spliced at the ends, to reinforce the walls. This 
Mr. Macmillin also thinks unnecessary, as the down¬ 
ward pressure of block on block is so great that 
even before the cement in which they are laid has 
hardened it is almost impossible to push a block out. 
The derrick for raising the blocks cost about $15. 
The seafford was built inside the silo, and cost a 
like amount. Of course, the material for both can 
be used more than once. 
M hv may not the farmer make the blocks? If 
this silo is a success—and it certainly is, except for 
the greater cost—why may not the farmer rent a 
machine and make his own blocks at his leisure? 
Doubtless a machine might be rented. The writer 
has had some experience in cement construction, and 
unless the material is properly and thoroughly mixed 
and tamped down a poor job will result. A man 
would have to erect one silo to learn how. When 
taken out of the molds unless the blocks are skill¬ 
fully handled they will get out of true and the whole 
thing is spoiled. The better way would be to hire 
a man and his machine to come on the farm and 
superintend the making of the blocks, the farmer 
furnishing the material and help. This would insure 
a good job, and even though such an expert would 
have to be well paid it would bp money well invested. 
Of course, the blocks might be purchased of the 
manufacturer, but the transportation charges would 
make the cost much greater. I am writing from the 
standpoint of the farmer who wants a good job, but 
with as small an outlay as is consistent with true 
economy. I can see no fault in this silo, except the 
first cost. Yet for one who can spare the money I 
believe it is the cheapest in the end because of its 
durability. A first-class stave silo of the same size 
will cost $75 or $100 less. The hoops must be kept 
tight or’the silo will fall down. In any event, wood 
will decay sooner or later. The silo has come to 
stay, as permanent as the corn crib, sometimes super¬ 
seding it. Of course it is better for the man of 
limited means with stock to build a cheap temporary 
silo than to go without on account of not being able 
to build a permanent one. edvvard van alstyne. 
TOOLS FOR EIGHTY-ACRE FARM. 
IIow much money should he invested in farm equipment 
(operating force) for general farming on an 80-acre farm 
valued at $6000? Some seem to burden themselves with 
a large equipment, others to run too lightly. I would like 
to know the proportionate investment. o. c. it. 
Cardington, O. 
Much depends upon the owner and the amount of 
cash he has available. Many farmers buy imple¬ 
ments which they seldom use. while others do not 
have enough to handle their farms to good advan¬ 
A STREET IN HILLSBORO, OHIO. Fig. 64. 
A VERMONT BOY AND HIS JERSEY. Fig. 65. 
tage. The golden mean is much a matter of opinion, 
for what one may consider a necessity another will 
consider a needless expense. I shall name such tools 
as we have found by experience under ordinary con¬ 
ditions enable us to do our work most easily, rapidly 
and economically. 
In the first place, O. C. R. should provide him¬ 
self with three good horses. Of course, harness and 
a wagon will be necessary. We find the 14 to 16- 
inch walking plow the best size. With three good 
horses and such a plow one can handily do the plow¬ 
ing on a farm of the size in question. Some use a 
riding plow, which costs more than twice as much 
and, except in the case of a careless hand or in very 
hard ground, is but little better. In fitting the 
ground we use the roller and spring-tooth harrow 
almost exclusively. If the ground is quite mellow 
we use the clod crusher or “float” in place of the 
roller. We find these will handle a 
greater variety of soil under varying 
conditions than any combination we 
know, and we have used about every¬ 
thing on the market. Many consider 
the grain drill a very necessary tool. 
With the spring-tooth to cover our 
grain (wheat excepted), we do not 
value the drill so highly. We generally 
use the drill, but in a wet season have 
secured better results from hand sow¬ 
ing. One may usually hire a drill for 
15 cents per acre, and at this rate it is 
cheaper to hire the drill than to own 
one. The same is true of the two- 
horse corn planter. However, during 
a catchy season the planter will often 
pay for itself in a few hours. The 
two-horse cultivator enables one man 
to handle the growing corn crop to 
excellent advantage. The mowing ma¬ 
chine, tedder, loader and elevator make 
a fine quartette for any farm regard¬ 
less of size, the only change being in 
the amount of help used with these. 
With plenty of help these tools will 
handle an enormous hay crop. 
The side delivery rake is necessary 
where quality of hay is very essential. 
In a great many sections it is now 
almost impossible to hire grain cut at 
the proper time, if at all, and I know 
of but few farmers who do not own 
binders. A great deal has been said 
about corn harvesters. After using 
both the binder and the shocker I fail 
to find any saving over the hand 
method. Where the crop cannot be cut 
by hand the shocker is undoubtedly, 
best. With it one man and three 
horses can cut and shock from three 
to five acres per day, depending upon 
how spry he is and how he handles 
his team. The cost of the above tools 
runs about as follows, depending upon 
locality: Plow, $15; harrow, $15; 
roller, $20; planter, $40; cultivator, 
$30; mower, $45; tedder, $35; loader^ 
$58; elevator, 40 cents per foot; 
binder, $120; in all about $400. When 
it comes to buying a team one may 
secure horses at almost any price his 
fancy and pocketbook may dictate, $500 
not being considered extravagant for a 
three-horse outfit. j. d. prickett. 
Ohio. 
R. N. Y.—Mr. Prickett’s equipment 
will be found applicable to all sec¬ 
tions where general rather than special¬ 
ized farming is planned. A capable 
man would make a good showing wi':h 
it, and could add later a manure 
spreader, and anything else his pocket-book permitted. 
Smaller hand tools are not included in this estimate. 
