Evening journal., 1914-05-13

In determining the size of a silo
me FIRST thing to be considered is the
aiameter, and this depends on the
humber OF cattle to be fed. When the
diameter OF a silo is too great the
silage Is not fed off rapidly enough to
keep It from spelling This is par.
hcularly true when silage Is fed In
summer. Care should therefore be
laken that the diameter Of the silo
be not too great for the number OF
eows to be fed from It, says the do.
partment Of agriculture.
From thirty to forty pounds OF silage
per COW per day should be pro
Fided for average dairy cows during
the time when no other green food is
available. The amount varies accord
Ing to the quantity and quality OF
nry forage used After the diameter
VI the silo has been decided upon the
hext consideration Is the number Of
iona of- silage that will be needed, and
This depends on the length OF the
pilagefeeding season. A convenient
height for a silo above the foundation
Is twice its diameter; but sometimes
II is necessary for silo Of small d.
hmeter to be higher than this In such
b case it should be well braced. The
silo should. II possible. bo located SO
rs to open into the feed room II
such an arrangement is impracticable,
Il should be located near the barn at
some other point and connected with
she barn or with the feed room by
severed passageway.
The Foundation.
To lay out the foundation, drive a
stake in the ground at the center OF
the proposed silo Saw of this stake
At the height desired for the founda.
hon wall, which should be at least
pne foot above the ground on the high
side, II the ground is sloping.
The thickness of the wall should
Fary from ten to eighteen inches. de-
pending upon the size Of the sllo, 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
eenter 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-
lions. Where stone or brick is to be
nsed the earth in the bottom OF the
hilo, except where the center stake
stands, may be dug out before the
wall Is built, thus giving additional
bilage space and allowing greater con
sentence In building the wall. The
earth should not be dug out deeper
than four inches above the bottom OF
The wall With a concrete foundation
this excavation must not be made un-
III the wall is finished and the posi-
lion OF the slaves marked on the top
Of the wall
Stone.
Stone may be conveniently used
Ghen the foundation will not extend
more than one or two feet above the
hurface of the ground II should be
paid in cement mortar in such a man
per that the inner surface will be
smooth and the top level.
Brick.
Where hard-burned brick can be Sc
Fured cheaply, as is often the case
pear brickyards, they can frequently be
hsed to advantage for 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
lns No. wire. or its equivalent. on
pvery second course Of brick above
Nle surface of the ground.
Concrete.
FOR a concrete foundation. a ditch
must be dug before any Of the earth
h 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.
Eora level
Preparing the Concrete.
For mixing the concrete, a box
bout four feet wide. eight feet long
un one foot deep may be used. or a