Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1917-12-27
THE KIND OF
A SIL0 FOR Me"
Various Sorts All Good ii They
Will Hold SiIage and
Exclude Air
WOOD-HOOP SILO IS POPULAR
Tennessee Farmers Showing Their In
terest in the Better Feeding Of
Beef and Dairy Cattle by the In
creased Number of Sfios Being Built

One thing that people have-learned
about the silo is that it should be
round or at least not have any corners
in it,. because it is impossible to pack
silage in a corner tight enough to eX-
clude the air and moldy silage re
suits. The chief requirement of silo
is that it shall hold silage to the ex-
ciusion of air.
Various materials have been and
are being used to a greater or less
extent in the construction of silos, in
GLIDING wood, concrete, yit1itied tile,
brick and metal. Silos of any OF the
above materials give satisfaction when
properly constructed.
Metal and brick are not commonly
used on account of less eXpensiveness
CT other materials.
Vitrifed tile or blocks have been
used for a number of years in the
building of silos in the Middle West.
crn states with perfect satisfaction,
and they are now attracting consid-
cradle attention in the South.
Quite a variety of patented clay
blocks and different methods of re-
endorsements are on the market. The
hollow clay silo designed by the Iowa
Agricultural College is very popular as
it does not require special blocks. 1t
is built of regular clay hollow building
blocks. laid in cement mortar. Num-
Der three wire is used for reinforce
ment, straws being laid in the mortar
between each layer of blocks. The
chief drawback in the use of these
blocks In the South has been the diff
ficulty of obtaining them.
The concrete silo. is becoming more
popular every day The many objec-
lions formerly urged against its use
have gradually disappeared and with
the advent of modern methods of con
struction it is rapidly taking its place
as the most economical permanent silo
The monolithic or solid type of concrete
siio is attracting the greatest amount
of attention at present. The use OF
homemade forms has been largely
supplanted by patented steel forms,
with which a more satisfactory job
can ordinarily be obtained, There are
quite a number of contractors operat.
ing these forms In Tennessee, and
during the last year they have built
more than 100 slos in the State. Plans
for making forms and list of con.
tractors building these silos can be OBJ
tanned by writing the Division of Elk.
tension, University of Tennessee,
Knoxville. Where there is supply OF
sand and gravel or crushed stone
available, as is true in so many Sec
tions Of the South, the concrete silo
can be built very economically. Con.
tractors ordinarily furnish a set Of
forms and man to operate them at
from $500 to $4,000 per silo, depend.
ing upon its capacity and II there is
an available supply of sand and
gravel or stone handy, The only other
cash outlay In building is for cement
reinforcement and labor
The wood stave silo is In more cop-
mon use than all of the other kinds
of silos combined. This is largely due
TO the fact of its simplicity and ease
of construction, and also to the fact
that manufacturers have taken up
this type of silo and advertised its
merits far and wide and have thoroly
worked the field with agents, Most
silo manufacturers furnish the sil) !
complete with all fixtures and super
intend its construction so that one Of
this type can be erected with very /
little trouble SO long az the hcaps I