The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-02-13
HOW TO BUILD A S|LO.
Care Should Be Exercised That
Diameter Is Correct.
Advice Given by Experts Of Depart
ment Of AoricuIture-Truck Soils
Of Atlantic Coast Reoion-Potato
Culture Requirements,
prepared by the United States Do
partmsnt Of Aqricuituro.)

prepared by the United states Do.
partmsnt Of AoricuIturs.)
In determining the size of a stave
silo, the first thing to be considered il
the diameter. and this depends upon
the number Of cattle to be fed. When
the diameter Of silo Is too greaH the
silage is not fed on rapidly enough to
prevent some Of 1t from spelling.
This 10 particularly true when silase
IL fed In summer. Care should there
fore be taken that the diameter Of
the silo is not too great for the num-
Der of cows to be fed from II.
The foregoing advice is given by ex-
perts OF the United States department
OF agriculture, on how to build a
stave silo. From 30 to 40 pounds Of
silage per COW per day should be pro-
vided for average dairy COWS during
the time when no other green feed is
available. After the diameter of q
silo has been determined the next
consideration is the number of tons
OF silage that will be needed, ano this
depends on the length of the silage
feeding season. The silo should be
located If possible 30 as to open into
the feed room.
To lay out the foundation for the
silo, drive stake In the ground in
the center of the proposed silo. Saw
OF this stake at the height desired
for the foundation wall, which should
be at least one foot above the ground
on the high side If the ground is slop-
ing One end of straight 2x4 inch
scantling, little longer than Is nee
essary TO reach from the center of the
silo to the outside of the foundation
wall should be nailed on top of the
stake with. a 40-pepny spike. IT,
thickness of the wall should vary from
10 to 18 inches, depending upon the
size OF the silo, the material of the
foundation, and the ground ON which
1t Ia located. The inside of the founda-
ton should be at least two inches
nearer to the center of the silo than
the inside Of the slaves. The material
of the foundation should be Of stone,
brick or concrete.
II the earth in to bottom of the
silo Is firm and comparatively dry, no
provision need be made for drainage,
and concrete floor is unnecessary.
Still, such a floor makes the silo cas-
ter to clean and makes it impossible
for rats to burrow underneath the
founsation wall and gain access to the
silage.
The hoops should be made of three
Qx,n - -
rods. in sections from 10 to Ia feet in
length. The ends of these rods !
should be threaded for six inches SO
that they may be !,ined together by
means Of lugs. Two hoops should be
placed below the first door, two be- |
tween doors all the way up, and two |
above the top door, il this space is
more than two feet; II less than two
feet, one will be sufficient. Three or |
four hoops should at first be put on at
the bottom and frightened up. Planks |
can then be thrown across the top OF |
the silo to serve as q scaffold, so that |
the top hoop may be put around the
silo loosely. within reach of the |
ground, after which they are pushed
up to the proper position with Stats,
and made fast by stapling them to the
silo from a ladder
1t is sometimes very difficult to get |
Tugs for the hoops In such cases
four by six inch timbers may be put
In instead of ordinary slaves at the |
three or four points where the hoops
will join. These timbers should be
placed with the four-inch face flush
with the slaves on the inside and they
will extend four inches beyond the
wall on the outside. Through the out
side projections holes should be bored
to receive the hoops and the ends
may be fastened with nuts Large iron
should be used under the
nuts.