S August. 1907.] Silos and Silage. 507 



and 5 per cent, on cost of 65 tons silo was 4s. 3d. per ton. One man was continually 

 in the silo during filling, and sometimes three or four for one hour. \Ye filled 

 at the rate of 6 feet per day. Trampled round the sides well on finishing and 

 sprinkled 15 gallons of water over silage, which was covered with old bags, and 

 8 inches of pulverized loam. The silo was opened on 23rd March. There was a 

 layer of mould 6 inches in centre to 10 inches at sides, and a layer of mould 

 around sides 15 inches thick. Have been feeding to lambing ewes at rate of 2 lbs. 

 per head, and after a day or so, they seemed to do well on it. Whilst regretting 

 the waste round the sides, we are, on the whole, convincerl of the advantages of 

 silage for this district. 



A later letter states: — 



There are now 7 feet of silage in the silo, and the mould round the edges of the 

 silo has reduced to 4 inches, and in parts only of the outer edge of the silage is 

 any mould to be found. 



Mr. J. M. B. Connor, Dairy Supervisor, reports having visited Tatura 

 on 17th April to open the silo erected under this Department's supervision 

 at the farm of Mr. Henry Lock wood of Harston. 



The crop grown consisted of 4 acres of maize ; 2 acres were manured at the 

 rate of twenty loads of farm-yard manure to the acre, the balance of the land 

 receiving no manure. Where the land was manured the crop grew 3 feet higher 

 and yielded about 3 tons more fodder to the acre. Fifty tons were taken off the 

 4 acres, and filled the silo in within 4 feet of the top. The crop from appearance 

 was cut slightly on the ripe side, but as there was plenty of water used, the silage 

 turned out a splendid sample, with practically no waste on the top surface, the 

 top being covered with a layer of saturated old chaff, which was then covered with 

 a foot of sand. During the filling the fodder was well trampled and about i cwt. 

 of salt spread. The silage is being fed to 30 cows, which are very fond of it. 



Mr. George Sloss, Bacchus Marsh, writes : ■ — 



I put one u;i on the plan you laid down in the Year Book of Agriculture for 

 iq.05. Mr. Kenyon was up and gave me a few hints, and, when I was ready to 

 fill it, Mr. Connor came and lent a hand for the first day. Both his and Mr. 

 Kenyon's services were very acceptable. Unfortunately I did not have enough 

 maize to fill the silo. W'hen it was all in, it was not 8 feet high. However, it 

 did not settle down much, and for the last four or five weeks I have been feeding 

 22 cows on it, twice a day. The cows say it is good, being very fond of it, 

 leaving none their tongue can reach, and with the help of the ensilage and the 

 nice green grass, they have nearly doubled their milk supply. 



Farmers desirous of having silos erected upon the departmental terms 

 must apply in accordance with the following form, copies of which can 

 be obtained on application. 



APPLICATION FOR THE CON.STRUCTION OF A SILO. 



190 

 The Seceet.ary for Agriculture, 

 Melbourne. 

 I hereby apply for the construction of a Silo aud of an Flevator to fill same, 

 and I hereby agree to comply with the conditions set forth hereunder. 



Signature. 

 Name of applicant in full — ■ 

 Name of parish and No. of allotment — 

 Postal address — 

 Nearest railway station — 

 Capacity of silo required — 



No. of Stock to which silage is to be fed. Cows^ Sheep — 



Crops propo.sed to be grown for silage— No. of acres — 



Make and No. of chaffcutter — Diameter of cutter spindle — 



Or particulars of proposed filling arrangements — 

 Proposed method of payment — In full on completion of silo or in three equal 

 annual instalments secured by promissory notes — 



CONDITIONS. 



The applicant must either pay in full the amount claimed by the Department 

 of Agriculture as the cost of supplying and erecting the silo upon presentation of 



