Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-31
BUILD A SILO.

Every farmer in Georgia should have
a silo. IL has long been demonstrated
that il provides the most effective
means Of preserving the most impOr-
ant OF our forage crops in an accessi-
BILE manner for food during the winter
season The crops needed TO fill struc~
lures OF this kind grow well in all sec
tons of the soath- one should not hes
itate to take up the live stock business
because he may not have an abundance
OF grass. for IL he builds a silo he will
be able 10 grow and preserve a much
larger amount OF dry matter per acre
than il is possible to obtain from the
best grazing areas in the United States.
IL has also been demonstrated that sill
age is cheaper and more desirable
roughage even than grass II We are
TO supply ourselves with meat we must
give more attention 10 live stock in
dustries. and in order TO keep animals
in good condition and grow them out
properly, we must erect a large num-
Der of silos on our southern farms.
Various types of silos may be built.
such as the wod or sJaye Stlo, the
pIastered silo hy-rib, or the monolythic
silo. The silo may also be erected of
concrete blocks or of tile The farmer
who Is in a position TO make a consid-
cradle investment in structures Of this
KIM NAV guy SlAO OuAIAk AAOAA SA~
of the large number of firms building
such structures Any OF them will be
glad TO give him a guarantee as TO
workmanship of the structure and that
IL will keep silage perfectly. While
all types of silos mentioned may be
used with satisfaction, the monolithic
is probably the most permanent and
will naturally cost the most
Farmers who feel that they cannot
afford TO purchase a silo or have one
erected by contract should not aban-
don the idea Of building such a struc-
ture since a very good silo can be con-
structed at home at a relatively small
cost. OF course this kind viii not be
so permanent as some Of the types men
toned. but If one such as is described
below is erected and used properly for
a little while, IL will certainly enable
the farmer 10 earn enough TO soon be
in a position TO build a more permanent
type. There are so many people VINO
are in a position TO erect and use one
of these structures who are afraid 10
tackle this proposition because il is
new that I am particularly anxious 10
induce them 10 try a cheaper structure
which they may erect with the labor
available at home and and out OF tim
Der which is probably 10 be obtained
on their own farm. and thus convince
themselves OF the essential nature or
these structures on all farms where live
stock husbandry is being accentuated-
With plans which can easily be obtain
ed BY any farmer. a good carpenter and
some active laborers can build stave
silo at moderate cost. The lumber
should be either iong-leaf yellow pine
or cypress free from knots and wind
shakes The cypress will probably out
live the pine, though we know OF struc-
lures OF the later kind which are
still in first-class condition after ten
years of use II is true they require
TO be painted from time 10 time. but
this does not add greatly 10 the cost
OF upkeep-
In building a siIo a cement founda-
-tion should be sunk into the ground TO
a depth of about six feet A heavy
footing should be built at the bottom
and the wall should be al least eight
inches wide at the top II should De
reinforced by barbed wire or other
metal which may be available on the
farm. The concrete foundation shoulo
rise above the ground 10 height OF al
least fifteen inches silo u rect IN
diameter and IS feet high will hold
about IS TO so tons Of silage. The ex-
cayation for the foundation can be done
nv hand at odd times during the sum-
mer. IL will require 10 build founda-
ton of the character suggested with
satisfactory cement floor in the bottom
of the structure IS sacks OF cement
IL cubic yards of sand ana CUBIC
wards of gravel. Gravel and sand can
be obtained on many farms simply LOT
the hauling.
For the erection OF the superstructure
The following lumber will be necessary;
saventv-sfx pieces 2x6 and 16 feet long
These should be grooved for the receipt
~ spIines. There should be IS pieces
7xs IL feet long, grooved for
spIines. When a IL foot pieces Is
imposed on a Is foot piece. the desired
height of IS feet above the founoatioh
is obtained The two pieces in aues-
ton should be splined together with
niece of sheet metal The splihes
should be made to fit tight and heavy
metal should be used Twenty-one
hundred and fifty lineal feet OF 5-S inch
nv - inch wood splines will be re-
oItrsd 20 Join the staTes together Two
nfaces AKA Is feet long. and two pieces
AKA y feet long. will he required TOT
the door frame Thirty lineal feet XXI
inch will furnish the necessary ooor
cIeats. Two hundred feet or matcheu
flooring will be necessary for the DOORS
snd eight pieces AKA. Is feet long. for
the rafters. Eighty lineal feet lx4 viii
he required for sheeting, and LOO shin
SrIss for the roof. The slaves are held
IN Mace by means Of iron hoops For
= structure Of the size under discussion.
"a SIS inch rods. 2 feet inches long
and Is IL inch rods OF the same length
will be required. All these rods must
he threaded s inches on both ENDS ana
sunpIied with hexagon nuts and wash
ers Twelve SIS inch and twelve Il
T,cb tank Tugs will also be required
- L.-5uara there should be 100 hoop