The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-08-18
Funns ths siIos 4 ire south Dakota state College Dairy Barn.

~
I chase the lumber, match it, and con
struct a temporary silo.
Most people prefer to purchase the
matched lumber from some reliable
lilo manufacturer. The lumber is
matched and fitted, and can be put to
yether by anyone who has only slight
knowledge Of carpentry work. The
doors. hoops, Tugs and everything
needed are furnished. The stave silos
are usually built from tongued. and
grooved 2 in. x In. or 2 in. x 6 in.
material. About every three feet,
iron hoops linked together with Tugs.
surround the silo. The outward press
ure Of the silage ten feet from the
top OF the silage is little over 100
pounds per square foot. The outward
pressure twenty feet from the top r.
about 220 pounds per square foot, and
the outward pressure about thirty feet
from the top Is about $50 pounds per
square foot. To make the silo suff-
ciently strong to Withstand these vari-
aus pressnres, the Iron hoops are
placed closer to each other nearer the
bottom OF the silo.
The silo should be smooth on the
inside 90 that. the silage can settle
without mn interference. Often the
Ito Is placed in the center of the
foundation. which in~terferes with the
settling of the silage below the foun-
dalton. The inside of the silo should
be even with the inside of the founda-
ton. Especially is this important
where a portion Of the silo is excavated
Town iE to the ground.
The siio should be located near the
barn handy for feeding and on a well
A. ained place. If so located, q portion
u the silo may be below the surface OF
the ground. The excavation should
not be too deep. as this makes It un-
handy to get the silage out. This un-
foreground part should be plastered in
4 similar n as is a cistern. Seep-
age water will spoil silage.
The foundation should be built on
solid ground, and may be built from
stone laid in cement mortar or from
solid concrete. BY ~excavating a hole
In the ground about six feet In depth
the bottom Of the foundation will ex-
tend below the frost line. The foun-.
dation can be made exactly circular
by irst driving a stake in the center
Of the place where the silo ID to be
located. Then fasten the end OF a
measuring stake to that center pivot
so II will revolve. Measure out half
the diameter, swing around and mark
the ground. Then Increase the meas
urement by the width OF the founda-
ton and revolve and mark the outside
Of the foundation. II the silo is ex-
down into the ground only the
measurement Of the founda-
ton is needed.
Silos may be built square, octagon-
al. and round In shape. Generally
speaking. the round form Is the only
one being built. 1t is almost I'M
to build silos in any other
shape so they win not spread.
Stave silos must be well anchored
with guy-wire to prevent them from
blowing down on windy days.
S:snsHsien and Size OF slloa.
In shape a silo Ia then similar to .
very tail tank or tub. 1t should be
high IN proportion to. width or dame
ter, or about twice as high as 1t Is
vide. The deeper the silo the greater
will he the pressure on the silage.
This excludes air and causes the silage
to keep better. More silage can also
be stored per cubic foot.
The dimensions depend upon the
amount OF silage needed or upon the
number Of cattle and the length OF
time they are to be fed.
The average Gov consumes between
80 and 40 pounds Of silage per dey.
In South Dakota silage can be fed
economically eight months OF the year,
to 24O days. At 40 pounds
per day, each COW would consume
ave tons. Ten cows would
consume 50 tons. and 20 cows 100