PAGE EIGHT
THE STATE FARMER SECTION
OWE TltOUCH
TMC NOOF aNOULO K HKM
CNOUGH TO mCNJWE MCK-
M6 0F THCM-ACC
U3C
SILAGE
SEE TABLE I
FOR DIMENSIONS
'-.I
Figure 1 shows the inside of a typical trench silo. The roof is
simply constructed. When the silo is bcs;de the barn, a shed
roof tnay be built over it. The building required no heavy
outlay of cash.
•wtac
SILAGE
BUILDINC
veR7ICAL
Figure 2 shows a croM section of a board wall silo with
building paper us«d as insulation. Partial underground con
struction is advised when the water-table is too near the sur
face of the soil.
Canned Food For Cows
I'lic rrcMK'li Silo Is IluwptMisivc, l{asy to Hinld
And Eflcctive in Saving Silage
By a Stajf IVriter
IF f)iif a^ks what a treiiili silo is and
ln)\v it diftfis from otlifr silos, tlic
answer is simply that a trench silo is
(lug into the groiind and in its simplest
torn\ is merely a lung sliallow hoU* in
the ground with slightly sloping sides,
and with or without cover. Certain
modifications are applied to make the
siniple hole in the ground better adapted
to certain conditions of soil, water-table,
and durability; and a roof may be added
tor greater protection of the silo.
The location of the ground silo is de
termined by soil, drainage an*! con\em-
ence. A stifi clay soil that does not cavt-
easily and is not water-soaketl is desired.
Since surtace water seeping into the
trench cau.ses caving ot the sid<s and
makes feeding the silage ditHcult, it is
Ix'st to have a uniform clay soil witii
tlie water-table Uiw enough tti prevent
accumulation of water in tlu' bottam.
While convenience may have to be
sacrificed for proper soil and drainage,
a location convenient tor feeding—say
next to the fen-diiig barn—is important
lor saving lalx)r in feeding.
Cloud of Witnesses
What Carolina farmers who have had
e.xperience with trench silos think ot
them may be judged from the comments
of sonu- of those who built and used
them under direction of farm agents and
ilairy specialists.
“1 don’t see how 1 did without it be
fore,” says \V. N. Henderson, Cireen-
woihI, s. C. farmer; and S. R. Hart,
another (ireenwood faniver, sums up his
npinion in two words—-"Well pleased.”
“Silage in A-i condition,” reported C.
H. K\ans, Abbesille, S. C. tanner.
Other (arnu rs joining this chorus arc
C. W. Crawlord, Abl)eville—"Kept in
splendid condition’; I). K. McGill,
Clierokee, S. C.- -“One inch spoiled on
top and .sides, the rest in giMitl >ha(M’.’
()nly one, A. I’. Hammond, I’it kens,
S. C., report<‘d — "(jwkI percentage
s|wili‘d,” and this taihire was due to
over-ripe corn and failure to use water.
Low Cost Appeals
As to expense, the general verdict is
given in the words of A. J. Patrick—
"Very economical,” while K. I/. Hen
derson, (jreenwood, sfxrifies — "'l\ital
self and being simple is v<*r\ easy and in
expensive to build, it thus fits in ail-
tnirahly with the status farmers who
cannot find cash for the heavier outlay
required to build the vertical type of
silo, and is one of the important factors
in reducing cost of producing dairy prod
ucts.
Regarding this matter of cost and cash
oiitlav, let us hear from C. C’. C'lishman,
an extension dairy specialist who has
had much to do with the wide use of
trench silos in South Carolina.
cost of the trench silo is negli
gible. It can conceivably b<‘ built with
out any cash outlay whatever. Records
of construction costs kept on a number
of silos shows an average cost of 70
cent per ton capacity. 'I'hus a silo with
a capacity' of 30 tons would cost $2}.7o.
“I'hese figures allow a liberal charge
for farm labor and mul<- lab<ir as well
as the cost of tiie roof. Several fanners
built these silos with no cash outlay,
using farm lalv>r on idle days and build
ing the r»)of of rough boards or other
waste material around the fann,”
for only pl»)w, pick, scrape, and muh“s or
tractor, there are other atlvantages over
the upright silo of wood, metal or con
crete.
Unlimite«l capacity is one of these ad
vantages, since the trench may be made
to acconinKxiate the si?,e of the herd or
the amount of feed for silage. A nar
row and shallow trench permits the
feeding of a few cow’s without the .spoil
age losses in other kinds. ~
It is easy to fill the trench silo, no
blower being reqti?re«l to elevate the sil
age, aiul the needed water is easily add
ed. 'I'heii, too, while it is important to
pack the silage well Ixrause of tiu- shal
lowness, the p.icking is a simple matter
and may be ma<te easier by driving a
traitor or even animals back and forth
over the silage.
' Sizes and Capacities
Ease uf feeiling from a trench silo is
a natural result of its construction ami
location. With an inclined entrance to
the trench, the silage may Ik* loaded into
carts or baskets and brought out. or
pitclu-d over the sides into feed troughs,
or into a fl(M»red alle\ aiul then into the
troughs.
“ I'he adaptability of the trench silo
to the si/.e ot the herd is one ot its great
est appeals," Mr. Cushman points out,
“becaust' as the lierd grows the silo can
be dug wnder and longer to meet the
tee»ling requirejiients.”
A silo six feet wide at tlw- top and
four feet widt- at the bottom, five fe<*t
deep, and 24 fc^t long will fe<‘d six cows
the require*! silage for 100 days.
For eight cows, iiicrea.se the length to
J2 feet; and for m cows, to 40 feet.
A silo seven feet wide at the top, live
feet wide at the bottom, six feet detp,
and 34 feet long is sufhcient for 12
cows.
Increased length and width are better
than increased tlepth, since the deeper
the trench the harder to reiiHive soil in
d'gKmR: also the harder to feed silage,
and the more danger of caving side
walls when the trench is empty.
Figuring the capacity of trench silos
it is necessary to remember that silage
weighs 25 to 45 pounds per cubic foot,
according to the wa> it is packed and the
moisture content wiwn it is ensiled.
Multiplv the luimber ot cows to be fed
by the number of *lays during which
feeding is to l)e done, and this will give
the number of cubic feet needed, beiause
the averagl’ cow will be fed a cubic toot
of silage each day. For example: 2i)
CiOws to be ted 150 <lays; 20x131) is 3,-
cubic feit, or 3,1 kh) \ 30 (weight
of silage j>er cubic foot; is 90,000
piivmds, or about 45 tons ot silage nec
essary.
Roof Is Simple
'I'he roof, as may be judged trom the
illustrations, is of the very simplest con
struction if one is used at all. When
the silo is beside the barn, a slicil roof
may Ix* built over the silo.
For greater peniianency of walls, some
trench silos are built with reinforced
concrete curb and plaster-lined walls or
concrete walls; or the W'alls may be lined
w’ith untreated creosote plank, vertically
placcd.
Where the water-table is t(x> near the
surface of the soil for the usual iiiidei-
grouiul silo, a partial underground con
struction is advised, as illustrated, using
boards or concrete for walls, which o)
course must bi' partly alv>ve ground levvl.
Smooth Side Walls
After the ItK'ation is determined nn'as-
iiie off the desired area aiul mark each
corner with a stake, advises the North
Carolina Kxtension Service. IMovv the
laiul within the measure*! area and re
move loose dirt with a *lrag pan VV^hen
the lain! on which the silo is locate*! is
practically level the en*!s ot the trench
should be gradually slope*l t*i the sur-
fai'e, so that the team can easily walk in
and out. It is advisable to leave the
slope in the eiul from wliich the silag*‘
is remove*! so the silage can he hauled
out in a cart. Tlie other en*l sluiiild
be dug out and given the same slope as
that of the si*le ualls. Side walls shoul*!
be smoothed and shiped witli pick an*!
sliovel.
When lumber is us«‘*l it shoul*! be
thoroughly dried before erection. 'I'lw
plank should he place*! in an upright ]io-
siti*)ii and shoul*! be treated uith hot
creosote. Side walls should he smooth
so the silage will pack tightly against
them. If walls are rough, air |wckets
will Ih‘ formed which will result in
s|M)il(‘d silage.
cost of silage only $2.u) per ton.”
Since the trench silo is simplicity it
Other Advanta'jes
H*'si*les low initial cost of constructi*in
and ease of c<instniction, with necessity
Castle Heigkts MUtary Aca^mu
H \GrH SCHOOL — JUNIOR COLLE<jE
Boanvess jmjbuimstrmiotv oenJBSEs
INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTI0I1
SniBLL GLOSSES
c
TUITIOM
»650t? 6*550*!?
HfsncTWiL-y
£z?i>omFe>^BeffNA»RmACFAPOfHls.ooox)oo<rFoimmn<m qataloCt-
ilOO.OOOV «ll>MOf^ SCHa'L Bflf\R«CKS OA.
J - RPQUeST
* Cof.Ba^P.Jlrtastro^, Sa^ * ^
i
A silo 6 feet wide at the top, 4 feet wide at bottovn, 5 feet deep and 24 feet
long will feed six cows the required silage for 100 days.