Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1914-01-24
TIE CONSTRUCTION OF A sILO
Geo. G. Keown in Rapid City Guide.

sible for me to do so. In preparing this 1t
will be very necessary for me to mention
few of the benefits derived from silage
and its uses. Without doubt the silo
is the best insurance farmer or rancher
can take out, whether he is running a
dairy or live stock farm. Silage is what
is required to maintain the animal sys-
tenn in normal health during the winter
months. The silo now fills the gap be-
tween fall and spring.
The great point in silage is that most
anything can be used in it. Corn with
or without the cobs, beet tops, bean or
pea vines, sweet clover. Russian thistles,
and even pumpkinshave been used with
no discouraging effects.
In addition to the silo being an insur.
ance in profitable farming, it has many
other advantages, few which will
mention.
The same acreage devoted to silage
crop will support twice the number Of
cattle it would if devoted to hay or other
crops. 1t clears the ground early and
entirely for fall crop. No shocks are
left standing in the field. 1t can be
harvested in wet weather, when other
crops would spoil. 1t displaces hand
labor by machine labor, making it the
most economical easiest and quickest
way of handling the harvest. 1t is a
certain supply regardless of drouth or
food. Half the time is required in feed
ing silage. and there is none of the old
trouble with corn stalks when cleaning
out the barn after feeding. 1t is the
most economical way of feeding stock in
the summer time when the pasture is
short. Silage makes palatabe food
which otherwise would never be con-
sumed. 1t adds to the appearance of the
farm and adds to its value more than
the actual cost of the silo. 1t furnishes
means of storing up against bad sea.
son. and the silo that expect to dwell
on is protection against fire, wind and
rain.
the keep of silage. Any housewife
knows that canned fruit will not keep
unless the cans are air tight. Germs of
fermentation get. busy if oxygen is freely
admitted, and if too much air gets in,
the fruit must be thrown out. Silage
works on the same principle.
If the excess of oxygen can be kept
from the freshly cut product the silage
can be preserved for an indefinite period.
AS soon as silo is filed the process of
fermentation commences and keeps up
as long as there is oxygen supplied to
keep the process going. Hence the less
air pockets in your silo and the tighter
it is packed, the less it will sour.
No single farm innovation has offered
to the American farmer such paying
proposition in years. This invaluable
feed store-house offers such saving that
several of the western states are con-
sidering the appropriation of money to
be loaned to the farmer with which to
build silos, and the bankers have agreed
to lower the rates of interest for the
same purpose.
All shapes and sizes of material have
been tried for the silo construction, but
the circular concrete type has proved
itselfa a good deal cheaper in the long
run, and at'the present time can be con-
structed as cheap as most any kind by
modern methods, which have just lately
been patented. In fact 30 peculiarly
and completely does this type meet the
requirements of the perfect silo, that
concrete seems to have been created for
the purpose. IF rats and mice can gnaw
through silo, air and water can follow
their path. If the whole efficiency of a
silo is in jeopardy from the tooth of one
small mouse, the silo is risky invest
ment and foolish attempt at economy.
Just one try at the cement construction
and Mr.. Mouse is ready for the dentist
Rates are very high for farm insur-
ance, for this reason, when fire breaks
out on the farm about the only thing
that will stop it is the lack of something
to burn. The insurance companies, in
order to protect themselves haye run
the rates up, and of course the farmer
pays the bill. A silo that contains food
supply for half a year or more, should
be made absolutely secure against the
| fire demon.
In modern days of the high cost oi
living. we haye come to regard initial
cost small matter. We instinctively
figure on breaks and other accidents
If one silo can be built that is absolutely
free from upkeeps and repair, all other
silos are inefficient and truely high
priced. Durability is the back bone o.
economy. How long will it last and
how much will it cost per day during its
life are the pertinent questions.
To be efficient silo must render lonl
service.It must not be at the mercy O.
fire, lightning, wind storms, water ant
earthquakes. Durability is the cheapes
thing on earth, no matter how much j
costs. If an everlasting repair proc
silo is possible, all othersare impossible
| Consider the foregoing statements
then consider the following proved
claims. The concrete silo is the acm,
of durability, never needs repair is abso
lutely fire proof, is air tight and waite
tight, is smooth on the inside and defe
the ravages of all vermin. Its construc
ton now Is very simple matter. /
cannot warp or crack, burn, leak, bov