The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-06-19

In determining the size Of q silt
the first thing to be considered is tn,
diameter. and this depends on the
number Of cattle to be fed When ths
diameter Of a silo 10 too great thu
silage Is not fed of rapidly enough tc
keep 1t from spelling. This is par
ucularly true when silage is fed In
summer. Care should therefore be
taken that the diameter of the silc
be not too great for the number OF
cows to be fed from 1t, says the de.
partment of agriculture
From thirty to forty pounds Of silage
per COW per day should be pro
vided for average dairy cows during
the time when no other green food is
available The amount varies accord
Ing to the quantity and quality OF
dry forage used. After the diameter
Of the silo has been decided upon the
| next consideration Is the number of
tons Of silage that will be needed, and
this depends on the length of the
siiagefeeding season. A convenient
height for = silo above the foundation
ls twice It's diameter; but sometimes
1t is necessary for q silo Of small d.
ameter to be higher than this In such
case 1t should be we'll braced. The
silo should, II possible, be located SO
as to open into the feed room. II
such an arrangement is impracticable,
1t should be located near the barn at
some other point and connected with
the barn or with the feed room by a
covered passageway.
The Foundation.
To lay out the foundation, drive a
stake in the ground at the center OF
the proposed silo. Saw off this stake
at the height desired for the founda-
ton wall, which should be at least
one foot above the ground on the high
side, if the ground is sloping.
The thickness of the wall should
vary from ten to eighteen inches, de-
pending upon the size of the silo the
material Of the foundation, and the
ground on which 1t is located. The
inside of the foundation wall should
be at least six inches nearer to the
center of the silo than the inside of
the slaves.
Materials and Construction.
The material of the foundation may
be Of stone, brick or concrete. Con-
crete is preferable under most condi- |
lions. Where stone or brick is to be |
used the earth in the bottom of the |
silo, except where the center stake /
stands, may be dug out before the 1
wall is built, thus giving additional /
silage space and allowing greater con-
in building the wall The
earth should not be dug out deeper
han four inches above the bottom of
he wall. With a concrete foundation
his excavation must not be made UNI
ii the wall is finished and the posi-
ion of the slaves marked on the top
" the wall.
Stone.
Stone may be conveniently used
vhen the foundation will not extend
more than one or two feet above the
urface of the ground II should be
aid in cement mortar in such a man.
Ter that the inner surface will be
mooth and the top level.
Brick.
Where hard burned brick can be Sc.
ured cheaply, as is often the case
ear brickyards, they can frequently be
sed to advantage for foundation.
hey should be laid in cement mortar,
18th the inner surface of the wall
mooth and the top level. If the wall /
xtends more than one foot above the
lrface. IL should be reinforced by lay /!
hg No. wire. or its equivalent. on
very second course OF brick above /
Ne surface of the ground. Il
Concrete.
For concrete foundation, a ditch
iust be dug before any of the earth
the center, is removed. The earth
etween the two lines that mark the
side and outside OF the Ssundation /
lould be taken out until firm ground I
Glow frost line is reached. care being q
ken to cut the sides of the ditch
own straight and to leave the bot
m level.
Preparing the Concrete. (
For mixing the concrete, box |
bout four feet wide. eight feet long a
a ono foot deep may be used. or a !