lo Nov., 1909.] 



The Silo in the Lily dale District. 



675 



made without chaffing, is not so suitable for manger feeding. For con- 

 venience of handling the chaffed material is also much to be preferred. 



In extent of storage capacity and consistent use of this method of 

 fodder conservation the Cave Hill Farm of Mr. D. Mitchell holds first 

 place in the Lilydale Shire. The first silo on this farm was a srjuare brick- 

 lined underground pit holding about 100 tons, and was built about 24 

 years ago. Four years later, two larger ones were made, to hold about 140 

 and 130 tons respectively. These were somewhat similar in construction 

 to the first one, but their positions were more convenient to the milking 

 shed. The first one was then used for other storage. The smaller of the 

 two larger silos, when first built, w-as 5 feet underground and 5 feet above 

 ground level. The walls have since been carried up 8 feet higher bv 

 concreting, w^hereby its holding capacitv has been increased about another 

 100 tons. This pit has no roofing ; but the other is under cover. 



J30-T0N SILC 



MR. D. MITCHELL'S CAVE HILL FARM. 

 (5 feet uiiflerg-round, 13 feet above.) 



No regular number of stock is fed here. About 35 acres of maize are 

 usually grown for silage. Mr. Mitchell has other farm property in the 

 district on which store stock are fattened. Among the stock purchased 

 for this purpose any cows which prove in calf are brought to the Cave 

 Hill Farm. If they do not turn out profitable as milkers they are speyed, 

 and dried off for fattening. The number of milking cows on the farm is 

 thus irregular. Last year a lot of starving stock from the northern districts 

 were purchased, and their condition recruited on the silage. Mr. Mitchell 

 claims to have been the first user of chaffed silage in the di.strict, having 

 made no other from the beginning. About 3 cw't. of hay chaff and 200 lbs. 

 of bran are used with 22 cwt. of maize silage in mixing the present (July) 

 daily ration, for 65 cows. This works out at an average of 38 lbs. maize 

 silage, 5 lbs. oaten hay chaff and 3 lbs. of bran per cow daily in addition 

 to the pasture. 



As regards combined length of experience and continuity of practice, 

 Mr. A. B. Taylor holds a prominent position among the users of silage in 

 the shire. His present farm is about ij miles out of Lilydale on the 

 Melbourne- road ; and during the seventeen years he has been dairying there 



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