The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-08-07

History Of the Sllo-The practise OF
preserving feed in alright receptacles
has been in use for centuries In GER
tain sections OF the world. In most
cases. this was accomplished by dig
ging a pit few feet in the ground
and, after the feed was placed in and
thoroughly packed, it then was Gov
cred with straw and foot or two OF
earth. Such a scheme of feed stor-
age required special type of soil and,
at best, resulted In a rather large
loss of the feed stored In this manner
AS the value of the silo became better
known, pits of the above type were
constructed and lined with tile, brick,
or lumber This method gave very
good satisfaction although the capa-
city was comparatively less than the
upright type.
During the last % or 30 years, the
use of the silo in the United States has
become quite common. At first, how
ever, they were accepted very slowly,
as the United States department of
agriculture reported only go in use
in 1882 Michigan. Massachusetts
and Maryland were the first states to
report the silo as an established sue
| cess. Today. we find the silo used
chiefly in the dairy countries and a
list of the dairy states will also be
list OF the states ranking first in their
approval OF the silo. Patented types
OF silos have simplified the construc
ton TO such an extent that there is
| little excuse for anyone to continue
| in the stock business at the present
time without one.
Essentials In Silo Construction
The principle involved In the preserv-
ing of a green crop in silO may be
compared TO the preserving of fruit.
Ii is necessary to have an alright
structure of a proper shape to insure
uniform settling and n smooth inte-
rior surface to the walls OF the silo.
The square silo has all of the neces-
sary requirements except that the 81
| lage in such a structure fails to pack
sufficiently in the corners to prevent
the air from entering and. OF course.
loss Is the result Poorly fitting
doors quite often permit the air to
enter the silo and the silage molds
as a result Ii is also necessary TO
have the walls constructed OF a ma
terial that will hold the moisture that
is In the silage as ii is necessary for
the proper preservation of the ensiled
crop.
Types of SiIos-The factors TO con-
slider In the selection OF a silo may be
expressed as follows: Cost, simplicity
of construction, durability. wind, frost
and fire resistance. portability and ap-
pearance. Any structure that will
provide the necessary factors OF a silo
and, at the same time, meet the above
conditions, should be considered de-
sirable type Satisfactory silos are
constructed from wood stave. clay tile.
concrete. brick and steel.
The wooden silo represents the first
of the patented types. Its usefulness
depends upon the kind of wood used.
strength of hoops convenient and sat
isfactory doors. growing OF slaves,
and anchoring. The common woods
used in the order OF Importance from
the standpoint or usefulness are red
wood. cypress. Oregon fr. pine and
taniarack.
The clay tile silo is growing In pop
ularity based largely upon its durable
qualities. IL Is non-combustible and
when properly reinforced. is a stable.
permanent structure Careful work
manship is necessary due to the great
number OF joints found in this type OF
silo. Freight and drayage charges
should be carefully considered when
estimating cost OF this type OF struc.
ture.
| Concrete is being used successfully
as a material for the construction OF
silos either as solid walled or mono
lithic structures. as concrete slaves
or as concrete blocks Extensive re-
Enforcement is absolutely essential
with this type OF structure. Proper
experience in cement construction.
convenience and cost OF materials and