The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-11-11
Form and Construction of Si:o.

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Form and Construction of Sl:o.
The round silo seems to be the ideal
form. In this tie entire absence Ct
corners redt,~es The waste very MAJ
terially, and the space contained In
the sio is most economically used.
Alter the round, the square silo is the
next most desirable form, while the
rectangular is the least desirable.
The nearer the rectangular si'o ap-
proaches tie square, the better it will
be. The smaller the proportion Of 81
lage exposed to tue outside walls, tie
smaller will be the loss, hence large
silos are more desirable than small
ones. It has been found that the loss
of food constituents is much greater
near the exterior Of the mass, while
az considerable distance from the out
side walls, the loss is greatly reduced.
In all cases the silo should be deep in
order that the pressure caused by the
weight OF the silage may be heavy, all
important condition TO aid IN the ex-
clusion of the air..
The first silos constructed in this
country were made almost entirely of
masonry. 1t was thought that solidly
built and cemented walls of stone or
brick were essential to the preserva-
'tioa Of the folder. It soor became
evident, however, that wool silos
when carefully constructed would
make as perfect silo, as far as the
preservation OF the fodder was con-
cerned, as those made of masonry.
There is one very material advantage
found in the more solid form Of slo.
A well made silo of stoEe or brick is
practically indestructibie. On the
other hand, the wood silo is more or
less attacked by the acids o: the 81.
Ia se, and this, together with the ex'
treme changes of moisture between
The empty and filed condition OF the
si!o, causes somewhat ra.il decay.
In all cases theSsilo should be firmly
and substantially constructed. The
pressure on the walls is so great that
much care needs to be exercised in
having the studding sufficiently heavy
acd close: TO prevent atny tendency
toward al,s,E- W. S-=ss:i!.-:=7z ==s-4- =
wood, thet interior should lie covered
MitL..-at1&least two thicknesses CT
boards, with one or: two coverings Of
tarred paper between. A wood pre-
serratiye made from gas tar. applied
while hot, has been very successfully
used. The more completely all of
the wood work is protected by some
pres eserrative the more will it resist de-
cay.
A round silo made Of staves is new
form which has come into use within
few years, aud seems to have many
desirable features. It is built on the
same plaa rs the large water tanks
commonly seen along railroads. The
slaves can be bought al! cut and sawed
to the proper length and bevel, and
by the use of heavy hoops CAN he
easily and firmly put together. Com
mon steam piping, which has been
drawn down and threaded to take a
nut, may be used III llace of tee strap
hoops. BY passing the threaded
hoops or stea n pipes through solid
riecc OF oak about four inches square
On opposite sides, and by using heavy
nuts and washers, the structure may
he quite easily and firmly bound to-.
gether. II is found that shortly
after filling, the pressure is becoming
very great upon the sides of t silo,
the nuts may be unsc-ewed, and the
whole structure slightly lcosened.
The slaves will fre?uently1'so shrink
as to leave air spaces between them,
while the silo is empty, but there is
no great Disadvantage if readymeans
for tightening and lcosening the hoops
is provided. With this form Of si:o
there is some danger Of the si!age
freezing in coll climate, unless a
cheap covering with lining of leaves
or sawtlust is added. .. .s...
IN the construction of the silo one OF
the most important paris to be es-
pecial'y we'll made is the bottom.
This should in all cases be first we'll
stoned, then grouted with mixture
Of coarse gravel and cement, and fin
ally covered with a smooth covering OF
Portland cement. The essential
points in the construction OF the bot
tom OF tie siIo are to provide thorough
drainage and to makeit proof against
rats. &. S. Phelps of til. Connecticut
Experiment Station.