Sept. 2, 190S.] Agricidtural Gazette of N.S.W. 735 



Stack Ensilage. 



R. W. PEACOCK, 



Bathurst Experiment Farm. 



In building ensilage .stacks the labour may be materially reduced by using a 

 derrick as shown in illustration. The clutching dogs are made to tisrhten 

 upon the material as the horse pulls. The points should be made of steel and 

 polished s(j as to enter readily. 



Four stout posts at either corner of the stack would assist in keeping it 

 plumb. The material should not be allowed to jamb at the posts to interfere 

 with its settling. Stacks of green material very often tilt over to one side on 

 account of uneven drying. The wind may dry one side more than the other 

 and prevent its settling uniformly. A stack may fall over if not watched. 

 A tarpaulin may be hung against the side to protect it from the wind. 

 Water also could be applied to the drying side. Large (juantities of fodder 

 may be cheaply and eifectively conserved by means of stacks. Constant 

 pressure should he applied in the form of stones, bags of .'•and, or timber, 

 whichever are the most convenient to minimise the waste at the top. A 

 covering of some material should be provided. In dry districts pits are pre- 

 ferable to stacks. The drying winds cannot affect the ensilage in the pits. 

 Pits are economically excavated by tatik-s'nking appliances. After they are 

 filled, earth to provide pressure and protection is scooped upon the top. Such 

 methods are suitable to the pastoralist ra'her than the farmer. Large 

 quantities of fodder may be economically conseived by such means. 



Ensilage from Dry Maize Stalks. 



That dry maize stalks can be turned into good ensilage was demonstrated 

 at the Bathurst Experiment Farm during the past autumn. Forty-eight 

 acres vere grown upon the uplands. Off a proportion the cobs were pulled 

 upon the immature side so that the stalks could be fed to advantage to the 

 dairy cattle. The majority of the stalks were perfectly ripe. These with a 

 proportion of green lucerne were put through the ensilage cutter together and 

 elevated into a tub-silo. As the silo was being filled a mixture of molasses 

 25 lb., suit 5 lb., and water 100 gals., was sprayed by the ordinary orchard 

 spray pump over the mass and thoroughly mixed. Twenty casks, holding 

 100 gallons, were thus added. The total quantity of silage was S."3 tons, 

 allowing 40 lb. per cubic foot. This was of excellent quality, upon which the 

 dairy cows have kept up their supply of milk thi'oughout the cold weatlier 

 whilst fed solely upon it. The percentages of the various constituents were : — 



Maize stalks ... ... ... 69 '6 -1 per cent. 



Green lucerne ... ... ... 19-28 



Water added ... ... ... lOwB ,, ,; 



Molasses ... ... ... '27 ,, 



Salt ... ... ... ... -05 ,, 



