14 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[ii Jan., 1909. 



more usually mixed with bran or some other fodder. The following 

 is an example of the dailv ration given to his working horses by one large 

 agriculturist :-- 



4I lbs. beetroot leaves. 



25 ,, bran. 



3^ ,, crushed barley. 



22 to 26 lbs. vine ensilage. 



A dain is mentioned where for nearly 3 years the cows ha\e been 

 exclu.sively fed on vine ensilage, the yield of milk being entirely satis- 

 factory and the health of the herd excellent. 



The article deals with the cost of production which it is estimated 

 would not in any case exceed 8s. per ton of ensilage including the pruning 

 of the vines and cartage to the chaffer and crusher. The average yield 

 of green prunings, immediately after vintage, in the south of France 

 would be from 3 to 5 tons per acre. It must be remembered that in 

 that district vines are planted at 5 x 5 feet. Tn Australia the yield 

 would not be so high. 



garnier's vine shredder. 



It is not only as fodder that this vineyard by-product is of value; 

 dry vine prunings, chaffed and crushed by the same machine constitute 

 excellent bedding, more absorbent than straw, and therefore capable of 

 furnishing better manure. Several vinegrowers are already employing 

 it in their stables. 



The importance of this hilherlo neglected by-product of \iticulture 

 is worthy of serious consideration in Australia. Its use in sucK a 

 season as last year's would doubtless have saved many thousand head 

 of stock from starvation. In vineyard districts where fodder is scarce 

 its value is evident. Nothing is said in the article referred to as to 

 the effect of such early i)runing on the \ine. \o doubt total pruning 

 before the leaves have fallen would l^e injiuiiJiis as it would interfere 

 with the accumulation of reseive materials by the vine. The removal 

 of one half of the canes w-ould probably :1;> little harm pnd vet provide 

 a very large quantity of fodder. 



An illustration of Garnier's machine for treating \ine prunings is re- 

 produced, showing a general view and also a section. In the latter, the 

 arran""ement of the six cutting knives, on a horizontal drum, is shown. 



