The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-05
A SILO.


= The silo may be a new building, an
annex, an old cellar, or a hay ebay"
reftted. The location should be such
as to prevent unnecessary expense in
construction and economic labor in
filling it and in removing the con-
tents.
AS a rule, these conditions are best
secured by placing the silo within, or
adjacent to a hillside barn. Thor
ough drainage is essential and the gen
eral requirements for a good ice-house
apply very well to a silo. 1t may,
therefore, be wholly underground, or
wholly above the ground-level. 1t is
preferable to have the silo, partly un-
der ground to secure and maintain
fairly an even temperature at all sea-
sons. For materials, stone, brick,
concrete, wood and paper may be used,
and a simple trench or hole in the
ground will serve the same purpose.
Excavations in an impervious soil,
or a well-drained gravel bed, which
may or may not be lined with boards,
to prevent caving or insure cleanii-
ness, make good silos. Such were the
first made in this country by Mr.. Nor
riss-the first, if [ am not mistaken,
in this state and this valley. [ know
such trenches in Illinois, simply dug
in the open field, through a tenacious
soil and a hard-pan sub-soil, to a stra-
tum of gravel below-flled with un-
cut corn, grown in the field and COW
cred with the earth thrown out of the
pit, which have made good ensilage,
and proved unquestionably profitable,
for several years. Yet 1 believe a
substantial masonry silo is the true
economy in the end. 1t should be
water-tight, and preferably but not
necessarily alright and frost-proof.
Oval or rectangular is the best shape;
rounded or concave. The walls should
be smooth and vertical, although some
prefer them to flare or slope a little
from the bottom toward the top.
Make the silo small and deep, rather
than large and the depth considera-
bly, greater than the length, width or
diamiter.
Several small silos are greatly to be
preferred to one large one. They may,
of course, be built adjoining, and if
desired, communicating by doors at
the bottom of the partitions. But the
silo should not be too small in sur
face. While [ have preserved ensi
lage pretty we'll in boxes and barrels,
with and without pressure, we'll hous-
ed, and exposed to all temperatures Of
the year, I am convinced that, for best
results, a silo should not be less than
ten feet in it's least dimensions, and [
prefer twelve feet, or even fifteen it.;
still a good rule is to have the silo so.
suited in size to the quantity of ensi-
large to be used from it, that at least
three inches in depth over it's entire
surface shall be removed daily, or ev-
cry other day at any rate, while the
pit is open.
Although more labor is involved in
the method, unless hosting apparatus
is provided, the best plan seems to be
to have no opening in the bottom or
walls, and to remove all the ensilage
by lifting it out. Side doors will Of
ten be found convenient, however, any
may be used, although a certain cause
Of more or less loss of material; if used
makes these doors as small as posi-
BILE and take every precaution for their
being made alright.
If circumstances make the use of a
door advisable, and thus empty the
silo from the bottom, let the silo be
built deep and narrow, but long, with
the door at the end, instead of deep,
narrow and short, where the ensilage
is removed from the top. The idea is
to have the least possible surface of
the packed ensilage exposed to the
air, while the silo is open and its cor
tents being daily removed. A curb,
apron Or upward turning extension of
the walls should be made, equal to
one-third of the depth of the perma-
nent structure, to allow for the set.
Ting, and this may be of wood in all
cases.-Prof: II. Il. Alvord, an Farm