The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-07-03

What kind of silo am | to
build? That question has been
answered. Any arrangement
that keeps out air, reduces freez-
ing to a minimum and admits of
easy filling and easy emptying,
and at the same time provides a
large storage at least expense
will become the basis of popular
silo construction. Many makes
OF silos are now on the market.
There is still some difference as
to expense of construction, but
so also is there difference as to
length of life of the different
silos. The simplest kind of silo,
homemade and cheaply construc-
ted of simple available lumber
will last a decade or more. The
various types of patent silos,
factory designed, factory sawed
and factory planed, and made
from we'll seasoned and we'll
chosen lumber, are all ideal for
the purpose and will last a life
time.
Various forms of cement con-
struction have found a place and
each in turn is popular in it's own
way. Some are made in blocks
of concrete, and these are set in
place in turn. Then there is the
solid concrete silo, which if prop
erly constructed, will last so long
that no one can know the age it
will reach. Recently the metal
type and the hollow tile type
have entered the field and each
has proved it's satisfaction to the
highest degree. But each man
must decide for himself whether
he will make his silo of wood or
cement or hollow tile or metal.
AS each chooses his wife, so also
must he select his silo. He will
decide as his purse may indicate,
or as the kind will blend with
his other buildings, or by aid of
some other governing factor.
The silo is one Of those things
about the farm that soon pays it's
cost. Once built you can be sure
it will never be abandoned, and
hence a few dollars more ex-
pended at the outset on original
cost will never be regretted.
Some people start with cheap
silos. They start with cheap
lumber. with the feeling that
they will make a trial, and then
if silage is satisfactory they will
erect more substantial silos later
on. But why do this? That was
all right a quarter of a century
ago when silos were new, and
when we did not know about the
facts that have now been gath
cred and so plainly published that
he who runs can also read. Thus
for himself, he can see what big
dividends the money invested in
the silo will return. Some still
advocate the purchase of slaves
and the home construction of the
silo. If high grade lumber is
used and good carpenter help
no fault can be found
as to this practice; but one thing
is certain, it does not pay to use
cheap lumber in building a silo.
Silos may be built even with
the ground surface, or be placed
around and above a pit of reason
able depth in the ground. 1t is
not difficult to throw silage to
the height of 5 or 6 feet, or even
more, hence there is no objection
to making a pit Of this depth, be-
cause 5 feet underground is cer-
tainly equivalent to 10 feet at
the top of the silo, 20 or 30 feet
above ground, and the silage
certainly does pack tight in the
bottom. Do not make the mis-
take, however, of not concreting
the wall underneath. Every
farmer knows enough about con-
crete SO that in case of a pinch
he can build that wall himself. /
The usual specifications for con-
crete apply, but the inner sur
face should be smoothed off with
pure cement, so as to get a reg
llar and smooth wall. The
metal, concrete or tile
portion above the concreted base
should be set even with the pit
base edge, so that the same dia-
meter obtains regularly from the
very bottom to the very top.
This admits of firm settling of
silage from top to bottom, which
would not be the case if the silo
wall were uneven or not exactly