Making the Farm Pay (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... Important Points in Building Silos It is a common mistake in building silos to construct them without sufficient depth of foundation. In northern states the frost line may be five feet from the surface, and unless the wall is put down to this depth, the structure is apt to be thrown out of plumb and possibly ruined at the breaking up of winter. The weight of the silo walls makes little difference, but the damage is most serious where cement or brick has been used. Even with wooden frames there is no reason why the foundation should not be five feet or more in depth. The silo itself may be dug to any reasonable depth in the ground, so far as preservation of fodder is concerned. There is no material damage from water settling at the bottom, most of the liquid being held in the silage. This is merely a question of convenience, and it would seem wise to make the cavity as low as it is necessary to put the walls--that is, three to five feet. Farmers are turning from wooden silos to those of cement and brick, in order to gain security, many of the lighter structures having been destroyed by wind. They do not gain security, however, unless the foundation is right, and as the average cost is higher with cement or brick, it seems like a foolish risk to have any but the most durable work. In nearly every case where silo walls are seen to be cracked or out of plumb, it will be found the trouble started with a poor foundation. The necessity of making repairs in a new silo is not only aggravating but it is expensive, if thoroughly done. There are other features of silo building which deserve consideration in order to prevent early damage. In brick construction there is danger of rushing the work too fast to allow for settling. A small affair like a...