72: 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Dec, 1908. 



SILOS AND SILAGE. 



I.— NOTES OX LAST SEASON'S WORK. 



A'. A. Rxlcuid, Silo Supervisor. 



During the financial year ended 30th June, 1908, fifty silos were 

 erected for farmers. This number is somewhat less than that for the 

 previous year ; but the diminution is easily accounted for by the abnormally 

 drv season just passed through in the greater part oi Victoria, resulting 

 in a lesser quantity of green fodder being produced. However, the 

 scarcity during the past season w'lW, no doubt, Induce many farmers to 

 save not only any surplus fodder the\- may have, but sho^w them the 

 necessity of groiwing green fodder crops and ])re--orving them in the most 

 economical m;inner, which is through the chaffcutter and silo. 



SILO AND PLANT CUTTER AND ELEVATOR UNATTACHED. 



It has been the experience of the Department that in many instances 

 a farmer will not launch out e\en to the extent of a preliminary deposit, 

 to secure a silo at cost price, on easy terms, unless he sees that he has 

 sufiicient material wherewith to fill it. Opportunities are often lost by 

 waiting, and it would be perhaps better for ihe stock, ;:nd also the 

 stockowner, if he first secured his silo'; then he would ha\e a suitable 

 place for conserving his surplus green fodder wlien it was a-\ailable. 



The capacities of the silos built during the past season have ranged 

 from 45 to 130 tons, and in every case the owner has only been sorry 

 that he did not conserve more of the same succulent, milk producing 

 material. The animals that have benefited mostlv have been the dairy cows, 

 and these were kept in good milking condition and were ready to give 

 the dairyman the benefit of the earliest part of the present season. 



