602 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Aug. 2, 1920. 



Coraki. 



A well-attended meeting of members was held on 11th June, Mr. W. J. 

 Hodge presiding. 



It was remarked that the exhibit at Coraki show on 18th and T9th June 

 was a record one, and was a source of pride to the members and district 

 generally. Over twenty new members were eni'olled for the ensuing year. 



Cotta Walla. 



Fifteen members of the branch attended on 7th June, the business con- 

 sisting of the reading of competition essays which had been judged by Mr. 

 R. N. Makin, Inspector of Agriculture. The papers were of a high standai-d, 

 the one judged to be best being that entitled " Conservation of Fodder," 

 which is published hereundei'. The writer was the secretary, Mr. T. A. 

 Howard. Other papers read were entitled "Oats," and " Pi'actical Hints on 

 Potato Culture." 



Conservation of Fodder. 



Australians are apt to conclude that periodic droughts are peculiar to their continent. 

 With a wider outlook they will realise that no country is free from occasional dry con- 

 ditions, and as climate controls man to a large extent, man must in his turn learn to 

 ■control climate, or rather, take precautions to tide him over the lean periods which 

 are inevitable. 



The obvious lesson taught by the losses and hardships occasioned by drought is that 

 man has not safeguarded himself against the effects of climate. He must do much more 

 than he has previously d,one to protect himself, and to minimise the disastrous eflfects of 

 drought. The rise and fall of his fortunes have always been largely attributable to the 

 inscrutable sway of climate, which has at times depleted and ruined his stock and crops, 

 and has driven him out of once prosperous districts into others which have in a degree 

 escaped the ruinous effects of the drought. A secure and successful agriculture is im- 

 possible where this destroying force varies as to periods and intensity. Some assert that 

 we can forearm ourselves to a certain degree 1)j' studying weather records and informa- 

 tion based upon recorded experience on the theory that droughts occur in cj'cles ; yet 

 there is a great diversity of opinion regarding the length of a cycle, tlie four-year cycle 

 and the eleven-year cycle probably finding the strongest support. While these theories 

 sometimes come close to the mark, records prove that droughts come at irregular 

 periods. 



Perhaps more reliance can be placed on rainfall records, as it is usually found that 

 when the rainfall for the year exceeds the average rainfall the following year will have a 

 scant rainfall. It almost seems that nature is a balance, and if we receive more than 

 ■our average one year we will go short the next and vice versa. 



Farmers commonly safeguard themselves against drought by placing any money they 

 can spare in prosperous seasons in a bank, and building up a sinking fund to be used in 

 the purchase of fodder when their stock are in need of it. This idea has some commend- 

 able points, such as (1) the reserve is safe from fire, weather conditions and pests, and 

 (2) it does not diminish but rather increases w'ith the added interest. 



When the other side is considered, viz., that the fodder which can be bought in 

 <li ought time is generally of inferior quality and high priced, and that the money which 

 liae been earmarked for this purpose only returns the farmer a small quantity of inferior 

 fodder, the previous advantage is more than counterbalanced by the disadvantage, and 

 one starts looking for better methods than these. 



Our hope for making provision for periods of scarcity lies in education and enlighten- 

 ment upon agricultural economy, coupled with the universal use of the silo. (Greater 

 economy must be practised, and waste of feed in good seasons should not be tolerated. 

 The silo has always proved of first importance where good and economic feeding is 

 required, for silage makes the best and cheapest substitute for pasture. It is simple and 

 cheap to make and will keep for long periods, and it can be made by the dairyman, 

 grazier or stock breeder in any district. In the drier western districts the pit silo finds 

 favour, and good results arc invariably obtained from forage preserved in this way ; 

 indeed, it is a success in any district if a good hillside site is secured, so that an efficient 

 drainage system can be carried out. 



