Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-05-28


In determining the size OF a silo
the first thing to be considered is the
diameter, and this depends on the
number OF cattle to be fed. When the
diameter OF a silo is too great the
siIage Is not fed of rapidly enough to
keep it from spelling This is par
ticularly true when silage is fed In
summer. Care should therefore be
taken that the diameter of the silo
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 Ia
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
sslage-feeding season. A convenient
height for a siIo above the foundation
Is twice its diameter; but sometimes
1t is necessary for silo OF small d.
ameter to be higher than this. In such
a case 1t should be well braced. The
silo should, II possible. be located 80
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, II 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-
tions. 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
wall is built, thus giving additional
silage space and allowing greater con-
venience in building the wall The
earth should not be dug out deeper
than four inches above the bottom OF
the wall. With concrete foundation
this excavation must not be made UNI
til the wall is finished and the posi-
ton of the slaves marked on the top
OF the wall
Stone may be conveniently used
when the foundation will not extend
more than one or two feet above the
surface of the ground. 1t should be
laid in cement mortar in such man
ner that the inner surface will be
smooth and the top level.
Brick.
Where hard burned brick can be Sc.
cured cheaply, as is often the case
near brickyards, they can frequently be
used to advantage for a foundation.
They should be laid In cement mortar,
with the inner surface OF the wall
smooth and the top level. II the wall
extends more than one foot above the
surface. it should be reinforced by lay
Ing No. wire. or its equivalent, on
every second course of brick above
pne surface of the ground.
Concrete.
Z For a concrete foundation, q ditch
must be dug before any Of the earth
In the center is removed The earth
between the two lines that mark the
inside and outside OF the foundation
should be taken out until firm ground
below frost line is reached, care being
taken to cut the sides of the ditch
down straight and to leave the bot
tom level.
Preparing the Concrete
For mixing the concrete. box
about four feet wide, eight feet long
am one foot deep mey be used. or a