Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1917-08-09
IS THERE SILO
ON YOUR FARM
SIIage This Year viii Be More
important in Sensible
Feeding Than Before
SILO PAYS ITS OWN COST
There Are Many Kinds Of Good silos'
But Wood-Hoop Silo Is Favored IN
Many Places Because Of Its lnexpen-
sIyeness and Ease Of Construction

In general Tennessee farm practice
the length of the period of usefulness
of the wood-stave silo is not determln-
ed by the number of years the slaves
will last, but by the care the silo re-
ceives II is not uncommon TO hno
stave silo In good condition that mas
been in use for ten years. Neglect OF
tightening the hoops during the sum
mer when the silo is empty results IN
It's becoming twisted out OF shape ala
not infrequently blowing down.
Notifications of the stave silo are In
quite common use in some sections OF
the state, the two types deserving par
ticular mention being the Wood-hOop
and the garter.
The construction of the wood-ho0D
silo is described IN Publication &C. o.
the Division OF Extension, UniversSfy
OF Tennessee, Knoxville, copy OF wnicn
can be had for the asking. The partic-
Mar recommendation for the wood-hoop
silo. is the cheapness Of construction,
considering satisfaction, end the length
of time It will last Wood hoops are
used, made OF thicknesses OF green
white oak or elm. h"x3~ generally saw
ed from a LOG cut on the farm. These
hoops are spaced about feet apart
and the slaves AKA" tongued ana
grooved pine nooring) are nailed 10
the inside Of these hoops, leaving
space OF 2 feet wide for q door. This
makes o siio that is inexpensive, as
rigid as the regular stAve silo' and the
hoops do not loosen when tt is empty.
!, II can be constructed 0t very mod
crate cost, and will last on an average
Of ten years.
The garter type OF silo is on much
the same principle, except that rougn
lumber is used for slaves. These are
nailed to the wooden hoops and on the
inside are lathed and plastered with
cement plaster. In sections where II
is not easily possible to obtain tongued
and grooved flooring, and rough lum-
her ia available, and enough cement
to make the plaster can be obtained
at a small cost, this type of silo. II well
braced so as not to be shaken by winds
which crack the plaster, will give en-
| tire satisfaction at very reasonable
cost.
The cost of silos and materials for
their construction vary 80 greatly FOR
different sizes and In different sections
that 1t is not possible to make com,
narison that is reliable. The average
cost of the concrete silos that nave
been built In Tennessee within the
past few years has been between WOW
and $500 per ton capacity. The cost
of the wood-hoop silo averages around
800 per ton capacity. Other staVe
silos vary in cost on account OF
the different kinds OF lumber used IN
their construction.
So far as protecting the silage is
concerned. roof on she silo Is un'
necessary. 1t serves as protection
for the silo and for the feeder during
cold. rainy or snowy weather, but Its
value for the purpose hardly justines
its use where the fact OF It's being
very much in the way OF filing the siio
IL taken into consideration
The inside of all silos, concrete az
we'll as wood. should be kept painted
and for this purpose coal tar. thinned
with gasoline or heated 90 that 1t car
he put on readily with brush. ID mos'
commonly used. Wood silos should be
kept painted on the outside,-K. M
Murphy. Division of Agricultural Elk
tension, University OF Tennessee
Knoxville.