The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-08-28
THE PIT SILO
J. E. Waggoner, of the Extention De.
partment-I. H. Co., Presents
Its Advantages


The pit silo has come to stay in
eastern South Dakota. Many of these
silos are being built as result of the
recent alfalfa and silo campaign.
When properly constructed they are
very practical, permanent and econo.
mical way of saving feed. They are
very common in Kansas, Colorado
and other sections where the water
level does not come within 20 or 25
feet Of the surface. The pit silo is an
asset to the South Dakota farmer, for
it provides cheap means Of storing
feed which will keep for 10 to Is years
IT properly put up, thus helping to
tide over years of light crop produc-
ton.
PIT SILO BEST INVESTMENT
Just recently the writer investigat-
ed many pit silos in eastern Colorado
ana found that owners were enthusi-
astic about them. The reports of
Kansas and Nebraska colleges show
that many of the farmers have pit silos
and are planning on building more.
Some of these farmers said that the
pit silo is the best investment they
have ever made. 1t has many advant
ages, among which are: no danger of
OF sllage freezing, it will not blow
down, anyone can build a pit stlo
that can dig we'll, the cost for filling
it is small, it is alright and keeps
the silage, it can be made for any size
herd the temperature in the silo is
more uniform and keeps the silage in
better condition, and the cost Of build
ing is small.
sILO Ar ABERDEEN
After the alfalfa campaign, Prof.
Holden, an ardent advocate of the pit
silo, j. G. Haney and the writer built
a pit silo at Aberdeen. The silo is
II feet in diameter, q feet deep with a
wall extending 3 feet above ground.
Thirty-five sacks of cement and six
loads OF sand and gravel were used.
The total cost of the material, includ-
ing sand, cement, derrick, rope, etc.
did not exceed $40. This pit silo will
hold in the neighborhood Of so tons
PIT sILo FACTS
There are few things that should
be kept in mind when building a pit
silo. The location should be dry and
we'll drained: the silo should have
curb extending from two to three feet
above the ground and from three to
four feet below the ground. The wall
should be plastered about three
fourths OF an inch thick. This can be
done by applying number of coats,
it being necessary to apply one thin
coat at a time for the cement will not
stick to the vertical wall if applied too
thick. Washing the wallswith mix
ture Of cement and water about as
thick as cream will make it alright.
The walls shall be perpendicular and
smooth: so that the silage will settle
evenly. It is best to have the silo
covered. The most convenient COW
ering is shed, which will keep out
rain, snow and dust.
The size to build depends upon the
size of the herd. It is best to figure
on feeding of from two to three inch.
es Of the silage over the whole sur
face every day. BY way of example,
. silo ten feet in diameter would be
about the right size for herd of Is
or Is cows. Two inches of this area
would give a daily feed OF Is pounds
per COW. The ordinary run Of silage
will weigh from 80 to 40 pounds per
cubic foot and Is to 30 pounds is q
good daily ration for the ordinary.
HOW TO BUILD ONE
Take 1x4 board about feet long
and bore hole in one end. II your
silo is to be II feet in diameter, mea-
sure out s feet from this hole and
drive a.large l6-penny spike through
at this point. Measure out inches
further and drive another spike thru
the board. Now drive a stake down
in the center where the silo is to be
and drive spike through the hole
bored in the other end OF the board
into the stake. By moving the board
around the stake two rings will be
scratched on the surface. Take a mar
row spade and dig out between these
rings to depth OF about to feet
Now fill with concrete, using a mix
ture of one part cement and or of
sand and gravel. This is called the
curb of the silo and its purpose is to
prevent the ground from caving in
around the surface.
As matter of protection it is best
to build wall two or three feet above
the ground, to prevent animals or
children from falling In, and it will
give that much moro space for silage.
The silage will settle down below the
wall II II Il filled up to the top, 80