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. SOLIDSILO BUILDINGVOL. XXX. No. ii. KENT and SEATTLE WASH., DECEMBER i, 1911. 50c Per Year; 5c the CopyThe principal source of profit in dairying, stock-raising and farming lies in improving the quality and at the same time keeping down the cost of production. In this matter of profit and loss nothing plays such an important part as tho question ofof silage per day, and the following table is based 011 this amount. Forty pounds is also the average weight of a cubic foot of silage.crete is poured into forms which can be moved up as the concrete sets or becomes hard. These movable forms consist of two circular shells three toFkbd for ISO Days.NUMBER OF COWS IN HERDa a)o u, •6-JS'g'SoBSpac O c/3ga) =— t£°w p8IZK OF SILO.be used instead of the sand and rock. Measure all materials on the basisof cement equals one Many persons raise the buckets, but the work can be done more quickly and easily by using a horse together with athat one bag cubic foot, concrete inTons10............................. 3612............................... 13lO a....... ...... .... .. .. a...... ()f20 7225............................... 9030............................. 10835.............................12640.............................. 14445................................ 16250.............................18060 21670................................ 252Feet1010111213141516 101718 19Feet2528293233343435 37 373940Acres2%345678 i/oiw10 11 12 14 V, 17SOLID CONCRETE SILO WITH CONCRETE ROOFfeeds and feeding. The natural feed for animals, tho one on which they do best, is green pasture. In climates subject to frost, man has made the same provision for animals as for himself by pioviding them in winter with canned green fodder called “silage.” Silage is made most commonly from corn, cow peas, clover, sorghum or alfalfa, merely chopped fine and stored in large water-tight cans known as “silos.” In dry weather or in winter, when green pasture cannot be had, this feed is equally good in producing a flow of milk or in putting fat on animals. One acre of a crop harvested as silage will teed twice as much stock as the same amount harvested in any other manner.Like a glass fruit jar, a silo must be water-tight and jointless to keep the silage from moulding or “dry firing.” For this reason, and also because no painting or repairing is ever necessary, solid-wall concrote silos are coming into general use.SELECTING THE SIZE OF THESILO.The best silos are built cricular inshape. The size depends upon how many animals are to be fed daily, the quantity in pounds for each animal’s daily feed, and the number of days it may be necessary to feed them. The silo should be of such size that a layer of silage at least two inches in depth will be removed each day after feeding has begun. This prevents a thin top layer from moulding. A dairy cow requires about 40 poundsIt is frequently advisable to cut down the average daily ration or to use silage together with other feeds. With this thought in mind, and especially for dry weather feeding in summer, many farmers find it best to build two silos of moderate size instead of one large stiuctuio.LOCATION AND FOUNDATION.Locate the silo where it will be convenient for feeding. Usually it is joined to the barn by means of a chute and passageway with doors. Since the silo and its contents are heavy, it must be built on sold ground. The bottom of the foundation shouldfour feet high so made that one fits within the ether with space between for a six-inch wall. The horizontal framework consists of two by four inch timbers cut to a circle, which are covered with sheet metal or wooden lagging. Each piece must be long enough to provide for a six- foot three-inch length of the circumferenceof the circle as well as several inchesfor the lap or strap joints. Theforms are raised by loosening themat the joints and setting them upagain on the finished section of thesilo.SECTION OF CONCRETE SILO SHOWING REINFORCINGderrick or a well braced jib-boom fixed to an adjoining building.BUILDING THE SILO.The finished silo shown heie is 15A WASHINGTON DAIRY FARM WHERE THE SILO IS USED.go below fro9t line. Th6 silo, may with advantage, extend four or live feet into the ground. Dig the pit large enough to allow for the thickness of the circular walls and a footing two feet wide.MAKING THE FORMS.In order to save lumber the con-MIX ING AND PLACING THECONCRETE.Concrete for silos should be rich in Portland cement and should be put into the forms mushy wet. Mix in one part cement to two parts sand to four parts crushed rock. Foui parts of clean pit or bank-run gravel mayfeet iu diameter (inside) and 36 feet high, of which four feet is below ground. At odd times all of thematerials were hauled, so that there would be 110 delay when the work was started. After the pit was dug to solid clay, the concrete footings (two(Continued on page 16.)
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Yakima Ranch
Yakima, Washington, US
Fri, Dec 01, 1911
Page 1
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Timberland R.
WA, USA 07 Oct 2020
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