Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-25
deep would hold 100 tons OF silage,
and would feed, .apprnximataly 40

WIN .AA01u lO11S VI Slldk6s
and would feed approximately 80
head of, cattle throughout the. winter.
All bulletins and silo advertising
material give tables showing the ca
pacity Of different silos. These two
sizes, however, may be used for judg-
ing as to the relative size needed for
any particular herd. !
Common Types Of 'silos.
There Is an almost endless variety
Of silos. Perhaps the most expensive,
and likewise most durable, are the
concrete slaves, held together In vari-,
GUS ways; concrete blocks laid to-.
gether' with reinforcement, and the
monolithic or solid concrete wall. The
hollow tile or Iowa silo, brick silos,
stone, the common sense or crib silo,
the common stave silo, the modified
istave and double walled silos. the
Wisconsin silo, the pit silo and the
combination Of pit and above ground
si1os.
In the consideration of these diff
,ferent types of silos, there are certain
features In their construction that are
similar to all.
Foundation Of the silo.
All silos must have a foundation,
and in many respects they are similar
for all, with perhaps the exception
Of the pit silo. OF the combination pit
and above ground. At present no one
thinks Of building a silo without a
good foundation. and the material
used for this may be determined by
what is most available. II sand or
gravel can be had. al a reasonable
cost, a concrete foundation is un-
doubtedly the best. Where brick or
good stone may be had reasonably,
these may be used with equal success.
In this region where It is desirable
to prevent the freezing of silage as
why at least a portion Of the silo
should not be under ground. For this
reason the foundation may be ex-
tended down as deep as 1t is desired
to go. ~
Floor.
It is not necessary to concrete or
brick the bottom OF the silo, although
ordinarily this Is done. II the soil is
open andsporous there. may be more
event the silage will mot be 80 easily
cleaned up from a dirt floor as from.
one of concrete, stone or brick.
1t is advisable to round out the. bot
|tom,of the silo to some. extent, similar
to what is usually done building a
eistern. 53tra
In case the silo is in ground that is
apt to be seepy,, and 1t is possible to
do so, a drain should be laid from the
bottom Of the silo to lower ground.
This opening In the silo may be
closed when the silo is to be filed, ana
only opened when 1t is empty.
Doors.
The doors or openings through
which the silage ID to be taken as
used, need to be given very careful
consideration. There ID perhaps more
trouble with h doors, and more
silage spoiled from the improper COM
struction Of this part than any,other.
They should first be large enough
Ito get silage out, but not larger than
necessary. They should also be fitted
SO that the inside wallaof the silo lie
perfectly smooth, so that the silage
VIII settle as readily past the doors as
any other part. 81
The usual size Of doors is about 30
inches wide by 80 inches high. and
there may be two to4three feet OF
sl ace between them. However, in
certain forms Of construction the
donrs are continuous. There is an
adya ntage in. the continuous doors, as
they admit of removing allgthe silage
without having to lift 1t above the
surface OF the silo.
hi matter Of doors In large silo
will be ofg more consequences than IN
a small one; Eecauseythere will be
lreiatiYe1y much more silage to be
Tput out through the doors. Where
the continuous door is used some
form Of construction must be en-
EployedS to hold the silo rigid, other
wise there Will be dificulty in keeping
THE silsge about the doors.
H0Of.
while the roof Ii not essential, 80
far ~ keeping the, siiage 10 concerned,
/ IN f1b{u rSerfdu they SboH1S he 2Hfvan
close attaxItfon, becauec ofs the fact
that sths silage usually freezes much
worse near the top than IT does al
any eother psxt of the 6ilo, In fact,
lie q been demonstrated that az the
Isiiage 81 kept from freezfng on top
there VIII notAbp nearly the diflculty
With Pressing as otherwise.