886 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



In Gippsland tlie most striking feature is the extent to wliicla 

 maize has been grown as a summer crop. Many dairy farmers are 

 cultivating it, both for grain and silage, and it may be safely said 

 that lucerne and maize form the two most valuable crops that the 

 farmer can produce. In South and Central Gippsland dairying has 

 made steady progress, and the number of cows is steadily increasing. 

 (Shelter during the vrinter nights is also receiving attention, while 

 there can be no question as to the development of the pig-breeding 

 industry. In East Gippsland the majze harvest was a record crop, but 

 there are two problems that have to be solved. Low prices for grain 

 and long distances from the market have made the results of the 

 year's work unsatisfactory from the financial standpoint. The maize 

 grower is in the same predicament as the hay grower. Fortunately 

 every part of the maize plant can be utilised by the cow and pig as 

 grain and silage, and I hope to see general farming come into vogue 

 with dairying as the mainstay. 



Efforts to bring about the general practice of feeding silage made 

 b}^ modern methods have been steadily continued during the past 

 year. It is satisfactory to be able to report that there are indications 

 that our farmers will soon follow the lead of the Americans, and 

 before long a silo will be looked upon as the most important part of 

 the equipment of the farm. Thirty overground silos have now been 

 erected, and I expect to see a large number built during the ensuing 

 season. It may be as well to state that the essential parts of the new 

 method are first to chaff' the green fodder, and then to pack it in a 

 deep, circular, air-tight silo. In order to reduce the cost of the 

 buildiiig we now make the frame of 4 x 2 sawn hardwood or straight 

 saplings placed 18 inches apart round the circumference of the circular 

 silo. These are held in position by hoops made of 4 x ^ in. hard- 

 wood. The thin hoops can easily be bent to the required curve and 

 nailed to the studs. The method of lining now recommended is 

 simply to nail sheet iron (22 gauge, black or galvanized) on the 

 inside of the studs and give it a coat of tar or ruberoid paint. As 

 the silo is filled, the inside receives a coat of lij.newash in addition. 

 The materials for a 100-ton silo may be obtained in Melbourne for 

 less than £15. In dry localities an additional 6 feet in the depth of 

 the silo may be obtained by excavating a circular pit the same size as 

 the overground part, so as to continue the walls perpendicularly the 

 entire depth. In wet districts the underground part requires to be 

 lined with brick or concrete. 



The amount of maize grown for fodder has been much larger than 

 any previous year, and in Gippsland much of this has been made into 

 silage. Over 5,000 tons have come under my own obsei'vation, and 

 from re])orts received from various districts I estimate the amount 

 made in Victoria last season at well on to 20,000 tons. Most of this 

 is still made in the stack, but it is satisfactory to find that the value 

 of chaffing it while green is everywhere recognised, and efforts are 

 being made to adopt this method next season. The difficulty of the 

 elevator is being met by owners of travelling chaff cutting plants 

 providing a long one with their machines. 



