Nov. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 911 



Co-operative Farm Machinery. 



p. QUIRK, 

 Ben'v Stud Farm. 



At the Berry Stud Farm there exists in a small way all the necessary machinery 

 for silage-making, the cost of which, at a low estimate, may be put clown at 

 £200, exclusive of the tub-silo. Now, while it is absolutely necessary that 

 each farmer should jiossess his own silo or silos, the same necessity does not 

 exist for each farmer laying out from £200 to £2-50 in special plant for 

 cutting and elevating the fodder. When a farmer has a steam-engine or an 

 oil-engine of 6, 8, or 10 b.h.-p., the other expenses for a cutter and elevator 

 or blower are not so serious. Many farmers can afford, or feel justified in 

 erecting a silo ; but it is the cost of the necessary machiner}' that is keeping 

 back silage-making on the coast. The arable land is there ; it requires 

 only that means be devised to work this to the best advantage. I have 

 talked and advocated a depot of co-operative machinery for years : my aim 

 being to suggest a means of placing in the farmers' hands, at a minimum 

 of cost, the same appliances as we have to carry out the work at the Govern- 

 ment farm. The want of agricultural machinery is the great drawback to 

 the farmers of the coast. It would cost from £250 to £300 to equip a farm 

 with modern appliances. This first outlay is beyond the means of the 

 average farmer, and what I most strongly recommenri is a system of co-opera- 

 tion, and institution of a depot of agricultural machinery. A society of 

 farmers to be formed, with necessary capital to purchase machinery and let 

 out to the members of the co-operative society only at nominal i-ates. This 

 system might be carried out by agricultural societies for the benefit of its 

 members, and I feel sure the townsmen would support the expenditure 

 in the interests of the farmers. The system suggested for hiring these 

 machines is that the farmer should receive them in thorough working order 

 and return same to the depot in the same condition, less reasonable wear 

 and tear. It is not necessary to have in the depot plant that is in every- 

 day use on a farm, but those special machines only that are required 

 for a few days in the year. Say £350 worth of special machinery is placed 

 in the depot ; this would be about the sum a lai-ge farmer would spend 

 to equip his farm, whereas, if worked from the depot, tlie £350 would serve 

 twenty or thirty farmers. No doubt this would be an innovation here, but 

 is successfully employed in Ireland ; and there is no district better adapted 

 for local trial than the South Coast, as the farms are in close proximity to 

 each other. The question arises : Which is the proper body to take up the 

 scheme 1 As the agricultural societies on the South Coast are supported 

 principally by farmers, should it not be their one great aim to take the 

 initiative, and form a co-operative depot 1 



