450 Agricultural Gazette of N,S.W. [June 2, 1920. 



Middle Dural. 



The members of this branch met on 20th April. It was decided that the 

 manurirtl experiment work be carried out at Middle Dural, and that the 

 orchard of Mr. C. W. Roughley be recommended as most suitable. It was 

 further i-ecommended and suggested that the Department carry out the 

 experiment on different soils, and on all varieties of fruit (summer and citrus). 



Milbrulong. 



A meeting was held on 18th March, when the secretary, Mr. J. M. Gollasch, 

 read a paper on the hand-feeding of sheep, in whicli costs wei'O considered in 

 particulai'. The feeding of 1,000 sheep with different feeds was estimated as 

 follows : — 



Silage ration ; 30 cwt., at 6d. pei cwt. ... 



Wheat alone ; 8 bushels, at 4s. 6d. per bus. ... 



Wheat and hay ration ; 4 bushels wheat, at 4s. 6d. per bus., 



and 15 cwt. hay, at 3s. per cwt. ...' 3 3 



Wheat and chaff ration ; 4 bushels wheat, at 4s. ffd. per bus., 



and 12 cwt. chaff, at 4s. per cwt 3 6 



The figures were regarded as interesting, in that they showed that silage- 

 is by far the cheapest. The majority of members, however, thought the cost 

 of producing silage (10s. per ton) was too low, and that the price of hay 3s, 

 per cwt.), after keeping for, say, two years, and allowing for waste, was too 

 high. One member related that in 1902, on one station, half the sheep fed 

 on .silage were lost. 



Departmental Note. — The Chief Inspector of Agriculture remarks that on the 

 experiment farms silage is usually conserved at a cost of rather less than 10s. per ton. 

 It depends upon tlie nature of the season, but as a rule it is better to build up stocks of 

 silage in years of heavy growth. For sheep farming, silage should be regarded as a 

 reserve, and in most years should rot be required at all. Of course, where crops are 

 light the price would be increased. In feeding silage to sheep, allowance must be made 

 for the labour entailed in doing so. 



In all cases that have come under notice, the results from feeding silage have been 

 excellent, sheep improving in condition, and no losses occurring. The losses on the 

 station referred to may have been due to the slieep being put on the silage when in 

 very weak condition and hungry. Danger attaches to any sudden change of feed under 

 such conditions. During the present drought largo numbers of sheep have been fed on 

 silage with very satisfactory results. 



At the meeting on 12th April, Mr. C. C. Crane, Organizing Inspector of 

 the Agricultural Bureau, gave an address on co-operation and farm economics. 

 Great interest was shown, and numerous questions were asked, and answered 

 to the satisfaction of all present. It was suggested by the members that if a 

 successful season resulted this year, a co-operative store should be built early 

 in 1921. Meanwhile information is being gathered on the subject. 



Moss Vale. 



A very enjoyable afternoon was spent on 9th April, when about twenty 

 members of the Moss Vale Agricultural Bureau met Mr. E. Breakwell, 

 Agrostologist of the Department of Agriculture, on the property of Mr. F. G. 

 Hayes. 



Mr. Breakwell pointed out tlie various grasses growing in the pastures and their 

 respective vahies. It was found that there was (juite a number of good native grasses, and 

 that several desiraljle introduced grasses were also abundant. Attention was directed in 

 a special way to red clover, wliicii Mr. Breakwoll had noticed lately to be seeding well 

 wherever it was grown. This answered the one-time objection of farmers to this pasture 



