928 
THE RURAL, 
Silo Notes 
The Square Wooden Silo. 
Will you give plans for the square 
wooden silo, mentioned in Tiie R. N.-Y. 
on page 311? W. C. B. 
North Andover, Mass. 
There seems to be a revival of inquir¬ 
ies in regard to the homemade square 
silo, with the wooden hoops, or girths, 
with single lining of southern pine, and 
small set-in doors between each other 
pair of hoops. In this locality, several 
of these silos of large dimensions, some 
single, and others double pits, have been 
built within the past year in connection 
with large new and up-to-date dairy 
barns, and I know of little cause of com¬ 
plaint, though the square silos have 
been built by the hundred for the past 
20 years in Northeastern Ohio. In other 
sections, the round wooden hooped silo, 
the hoops built of %x4-inch stuff, with 
three or four laps of springy lumber, 
like elm or green oak, and using about 
15 hoops to a 30-foot silo. With the 
square silo about the same number of 
Diagram of Square Silo. 
hoop-girths will be needed, but in this 
case, the girths will be made of 2x8- 
inch Stuff with reinforced corners, and 
as each girth is added to the structure, 
bridge-work will be spiked in between 
them which greatly stiffens the struc¬ 
ture. As the silo rises in height, these 
girths are spaced wider, and need not be 
nearer than three to 3% feet apart at 
the top. The inside lining of these silos 
is made of inch flooring, preferably in 
this country of heart southern pine, put 
on so as to break ends on the girths, and 
nailed with cut nails in preference to 
the wire ones, unless the galvanized ones 
can be had. 
The making of the girths is easy, cut¬ 
ting the lengths 16 inches longer than 
the actual size of the silo, lapping on 
the corners, (see illustration), securely 
nailing them, and then putting on corn¬ 
er cleats, as depicted; which not only 
makes the corners absolutely secure, but 
“cuts” the corners of the silo, and 
makes it in fact circular in practical 
results. The foundation for the square 
silo needs to be in fact as good and 
secure as for anyone. The sills should 
be made of two girths spiked together, 
and bedded in a good cement. When in 
place, about 12 “spacers” or bridging 
made of 2xS’s, cut 16 inches long, are 
toe-nailed to this sill, a girth placed on 
top of them, and nailed down through to 
the spacers, more spacers added, and an¬ 
other girth added, and so on to the top, 
being sure to keep the girths plumb and 
stayed in place, and then putting in 
the lining commences, beginning at a 
point where the doors are to be placed, 
and going on round to within 20 inches 
of beginning. Cut in 2x4’s between the 
girths to make the door frames, and doors 
to set against the girths from the inside, 
aiid made to fit, complete the job. The 
outside of the silo can be covered with 
cheap siding, put on up and down or of 
some of the white, or sanded roofing pa¬ 
pers. The roof is as one may elect. The 
silo needs to be “guyed” to the barn in 
some way, and the interior may be 
painted with some sort of wood pre¬ 
servative, if thought best. Any carpen¬ 
ter of any constructive ability, can build 
a square silo. Here many farmers con¬ 
struct their own, as the only “close” 
work is in properly putting in the lining, 
so as to make it snug, and without open 
joints. J. G. 
The Concrete Silo—Will It Stand the Acid 
Test ? 
Next month I am going to build a 
200-ton silo. To get the best sand and 
gravel I have only a one-fourth mile 
haul, and can get Portland cement at 
about $1.60 per barrel. Until very late¬ 
ly it has been my intention to build a 
concrete silo, but now am in doubt 
whether to build this kind or the wooden 
stave silo. I have heard that the con¬ 
crete silo is pretty unsatisfactory, as 
tbe silage acids disintegrate the inner 
wall even though tar, etc., be applied at 
intervals. Also, the heaviest reinforc¬ 
ing must be used in the interior of the 
wall; big iron hoops around the outer 
wall are almost the only insurance 
against possible cracks forming in the 
wall. It is also claimed that concrete 
walls are too porous and conduct heat 
too readily, and allow much more silage 
to spoil near the wall than do wooden 
stave silos. J. D. B. 
Georgia. 
In this immediate vicinity we have 
had a little trouble with concrete silos, 
but not owing to the fact that it was 
concrete, but to the fact that the forms 
were not properly placed and the con¬ 
crete did not have proper reinforcing. I 
think I am safe in saying that a concrete 
silo will last indefinitely if properly 
mixed and properly poured. It is not 
the silage that causes it to fail that we 
can find. We have had complaints sim¬ 
ilar to what you have had, but we find 
that these are mostly instigated by peo¬ 
ple interested in clay products. We have 
had concrete floors for our silos here for 
15 years and find no perceptible change. 
We have instructed several farmers in 
the State relative to the building of silos, 
and in every way the silos are giving the 
best of results. Occasionally there is a 
failure but it is due entirely to work¬ 
manship and not to the action of the 
silage. a. m. bull. 
Minn. Agricultural College. 
We have hundreds of concrete silos in 
the South, and so far as I have been able 
to learn there has been no dissatisfaction 
when the silo was properly constructed, 
and the silage crop properly ensiled. If 
the conci’ete silo is properly reinforced 
with woven wire or rods, and has a good 
foundation, there is no possibility of its 
failure. If the inquirer is afraid that 
the acid will destroy the silo wall, he 
can coat the inside of the silo with a 
waterproofing mixture, or paint it with 
raw coal tar, thinned with gasoline. 
KIEL NEGLEY. 
Alabama Agricultural College. 
So far as our observation goes, there 
is no evidence that a well-built concrete 
silo is not a perfect success in the South. 
By the use of a cement wash on the in¬ 
side of the silo, or of asphaltum, we ex¬ 
perience no difficulty in getting good sil¬ 
age clear up to the concrete wall of the 
silo. From the experience we have had 
up to the present time, I would say that 
the well-built concrete silo is a decided 
success in the South. h. a. Morgan. 
Tennessee Agricultural College. 
There have been a great many con¬ 
crete silos erected in this State during 
the past few years and we have never 
known of any of them being unsatisfac¬ 
tory. All the owners of concrete silos 
that we have come in contact with have 
been very much pleased. 
Louisiana Exp. Sta. A. P. kerr. 
I have had charge of the silo propa¬ 
ganda in Kentucky for the past two years 
during which time I have had oppor¬ 
tunity to observe all kinds of silos that 
have been built in this State. I can 
state emphatically that the concrete silo 
has proven entirely satisfactory in Ken¬ 
tucky. So far we have noted no appar¬ 
ent injury to the silo walls on account 
of action of the silage acids. In most 
cases, however, farmers apply a coat of 
coal tar to the inner wall, this making 
any action of the acid on the concrete 
impossible. w. D. nicholls. 
Kentucky Exp. Station. 
We consider the concrete silo, when 
properly built, as perfectly satisfactory. 
It is true that there have been some 
unfavorable reports from the same; but 
investigation has usually shown that the 
silos thus reported were not properly 
constructed. If we remember that the 
concrete silo is practically a new thing, 
there is little wonder that many farmers 
who have attempted this kind of con¬ 
struction have not produced entire suc¬ 
cess. In the southern part of our State 
the concrete silo is quite general in con¬ 
struction and has come to be accepted 
as a standard construction. The Univer¬ 
sity of Wisconsin advocates the concrete 
silo and has as a matter of fact, for 
some years sent out forms for the con¬ 
struction of such silos, also aided in their 
erection. Three things are essential in 
any silo, namely: strength, air and water¬ 
tightness and smoothness of walls. The 
only one of these features which might 
be criticised is that of air and water 
tightness. To secure this in the con¬ 
crete silo, it is necessary to use proper 
proportions of cement, sand and gravel 
and to have it properly poured. The in¬ 
ner surface of the concrete silo should 
be coated with cement and water mixed 
to a creamy consistency or with asphal- 
NEW-VORTCER 
July 17, 1915. 
turn paint. This is sometimes advocated 
by some to be repeated after a period 
of two or three years, while it is claimed 
by others when properly constructed, this 
is not necessary. h. h. musselman. 
Michigan Exp. Station. 
We have found that the monolithic 
concrete silos, when properly constructed, 
are absolutely satisfactory in every re¬ 
spect. There are hundi’eds of them in 
this State and in surrounding States, and 
we have yet to hear of one that was 
properly built that did not perform every 
function required of it with a high de¬ 
gree of satisfaction. It is true that the 
concrete silo has been subjected to some 
very harsh criticism, but in almost every 
instance this criticism has come from 
the manufacturers and representatives 
of other silos. It is not true that acids 
of silage destroy the concrete, and we 
have not heard of a single authenticated 
case where the action of acids of the 
silage has even been noted. In fact, 
there are hundreds of cases where the 
exact contrary is indicated. If the acids 
of silage are strong enough to affect 
conci’ete, what must happen to the lin¬ 
ings of the stomachs of cows who eat 
silage practically all thx*ough the year? 
Just last Spring a silo near Indian¬ 
apolis was emptied of silage which had 
been in there for 14 years. There was 
absolutely no corrosion of the concrete 
walls. K. J. T. ELBLAW. 
Illinois Exp. Station. 
Garget. 
I have a three-yeai’-old heifer; her first 
calf was born May 1, 1914. Every two or 
three weeks during the Summer of 1914 
the milk in one of her teals would become 
lumpy and sometimes bloody. Then it 
would get all right again for two or thi’ee 
weeks. She is now dry and will soon 
fi-eshen again. The other three teats 
were always all right. The teat gives 
just as much milk as any one of the 
others. w. S. 
New York. 
The affected quarter may gradually lose 
its function or have to be dried off on ac¬ 
count of the abnormal condition of the 
milk produced. Milk that quarter three 
or four times a day, when the milk is ab¬ 
normal, and once daily rub well with a 
mixture of one part each of turpentine, 
and fluid extract of poke root and bella¬ 
donna leaves and five parts of lanoline or 
lard. A. s. A. 
Hobson : “My wife never wastes any¬ 
thing.” Dobson: “No?” Hobson: “No. 
If it’s edible, it goes into the hash ; and 
if it isn’t, it will do to trim a hat.”— 
Judge. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial papr. 
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