The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-04-01
How We Made the SiIO a Success
By H. L. Blanchard

The following inquiries have been
received from Shannon Bros, of Glow
erdale, B. c.:
1--WE are going to build new silo
shortly, so we would like to get some
information from you, as we under
stand you have been very successful.
We have had a round silo of the stave
type, but the ensilage spoils around the
walls. so we intend to plaster it inside
with cement, and as we hear you have
one plastered the same way we would
like to know if it has been thorough
success. We understand you used lath.
Some say that they will crack the ce-
ment when they get damp and expand.
How have you found them in this re-
spect? How did you put the lath on,
and what kind of cement did you use,
also in what proportion did you mix &C.
ment and sand for the plaster? How
did you put the doors in? We have
had considerable trouble in that re-
spect We are going to use clover for
ensilage How have you found clover
to compare with peas or vetches for
ensilage? What do you use to cover
We would be very much obliged if you
could give us the information asked; ;
also anything further that would help
u.s."
The writer of the foregoing is per-
sonally known to us as progressive
farmer and breeder of British Column
bia and his experience with the silo
is very similar to that of scores of
other farmers in this tate and British
Columbia-an evident loss in quantity
and quality of silage by reason of the
silo structure not being air tight; but
the Shannon Bros. are not inclined to
question the wisdom of using the silO
by reason of their slight misfortunes
during their experiments. They are in
the identical position that the writer
was in after experimenting with the
silo for two successive years, viz: We
had faith in the silo, yet were thus far
dissatisfied with the results. The ques-
ton with us at that time was, shall we
line our silo with brick and cement
over the brick, or shall we lath and
cement without the brick? To brick
the structure on the inside would nee
essarily lessen the capacity of the silo,
by diminishing it's diameter. We
therefore decided to lath and cement,
as an experiment.
1t then first became all important
that the silo-built with slaves 16x24-
should be made perfectly rigid, or
there would be great danger of the
cement cracking; and not only rigid
but it should be entirely independent
of any other structure or framework,
in order to escape any accidental jars
or shocks. To accomplish this, the
wire hoops were not, in our judgment
sufficient, some of which were accord
ingly removed, and in their stead
we placed wooden hoops about two feet
apart. For these we took half-inch fir
boards six inches wide, doubling them
by placing one over the other and
breaking joints. This was easily done
by first mailing one end of the board
to the silo where hoop was desired,
and bending the board to the silo and
mailing to every stave. In this way
the silo framework was made perfect
ly rigid. The material, four barrels of
Portland cement and sufficient common
lath and nails being on the ground, we
were ready to lath and cement the silo
on inside. An experienced brick ma
son, with one helper did the work.