Construction Of Silos

The point bre given are based upon the extensive investigation of Mr. F. M. King, of the Wisconsin station, who examined ninety-three 6ilos. As a result oí his observation and experience, Mr. King believes that the silo should not be less than twenty-four feet deep and either round or as nearly square as practicable, because "these fonns give the greatest capacity with the least amount of side exposure." In the construction of silos careful attention should be paid to the area of surf ace exposed in feeding the silage. Silage wastes much more rapidly when fed from the sides than from the top, and henee it follows that the feeding should be in general from the top. The proper horizontal area of the feeding pit dependa upon the amount of silage fed daily, and the rate at which the silage becomes seriously injured when exposed. The spoiling is certainly more rapid in the shallow than in the deep silos, and more rapid when corn or elover is put in whole than when ent, because it is impossible to feed the surface down as evenly and keei it as smooth. The authority quoted says that the silage should be lowered at least two hiehes daily, and that three would be better. Taking three inches as the depth fed daily, forty as the uumber of animáis, 150 days as the feeding period and 1.5 cabio f eet as the ainount fed to each animal daily, a round silo 17.5 feet inside diameter and 37 feet deep would be required. The same conditions would also be rnet by a round silo 22 feet inside diameter, 24 feet deep, with a partition through the center. Where all the silage can be fed conveniently from one point, and a large amotint must be stored, one silo with partitions is not only much cheaper but better than separate structures, for the round silo with partitions makes less corners than the rectangular ones do. Two wide thicknesses of boards with paper between them make a better partition than the 2-inch plank, which appears to be more commonly used. At present prices there is no material which can compare with wood in cheapness of first sost, and if a inode of construction can be devised which will insure permanency to the f ramework and at the same time give an effective service of say ten years to the lining, the essential demand of a material for silo building will be I met by it. Only sound and well seasoned lumber should be used.