676 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Nov., 1909. 



he has made regular provision each year for tlie winter feeding of his herd 

 by means of silage. His first experience with siloed fodder dates some 

 twenty years ,back, on the farm he then had at Croydon, which was after- 

 wards purchased by Mr. McKay. In his first yeajof silage-making there 

 the maize was put into the pit whole ; and the trouble which was experienced 

 in getting the material out again when required determined him in favour 

 of chaffing before putting it into the pit, a practice he has always followed 

 since. 



Mr. Taylor's present silo is a rectangular underground brick-lined pit 

 of about 70 tons capacity. This usually is filled with the produce from 

 about 6 acres of maize. Some 35 acres of oats were also made into silage 

 this year, and used before the maize was fit to cut. 



Below the ground level the pit walls are built Avith a batter of 

 about 8 inches in 18 feet. There is some 5 feet of straight up wall above 

 this that is only intended to act as holding space for the maize at the final 

 stage of filling so that enough will be held to insure the filling of the pit to 

 the ground level when the material has finally settled. The sloping of the 

 lower walls is considered a distinct advantage by several in this district, 

 on the ground that it allows for a closer settling of the silage in the pit, 

 and thus minimizes the possibility of side waste occurring through uneven- 

 ness of wall surface. 



Afr. John Kerr, of Yering, is the pioneer of the silo in the Lilydale 

 district. Twenty-seven years ago he excavated a pit 45 feet long, 1 7 feet 

 deep, and 15 feet wide at the surface and having a 9-inch batter on the side 

 walls. This was filled with whole maize. Having reasonable success with 

 this, another pit was made four years later — 72 feet long, 17 feet deep, and 

 22 feet surface width. The walls of both pits were then bricked. At that 

 time the farm was carrying a milking herd of 250 head. About 100 acres 

 of maize were grown yearly ; and the pits were filled regularly with this 

 fodder for about nineteen years in succession. Some eight or nine years 

 ago the dairy-work of the farm was reduced, and more attention given to 

 grazing and hay growing. As the silo pits were not kept in use, they got 

 into a state of disrepair ; and finally the bricks were taken out, and the 

 ground levelled up again. A renewed interest, however, is being taken in 

 dairying this last two seasons and silage is again being used. Forty acres 

 of maize were grown last year. The surplus of the previous season's 

 growing had been made to stack silage. Then a circular concrete-block 

 silo holding about 160 tons was built, and filled this season. The contents 

 lasted the milking stock about four months. Tt is intended to increase 

 the size of this silo before next season by making the wall 5 feet higher. 

 If possible, two more silos of the same .size will then be erected ; for which 

 purpose a quantity of the blocks have already been made. The milking 

 herd, which had been reduced to 40 head, has now been raised to 150 ; 

 and it is being still further added to as the management of the farm per- 

 mits. A refitting of the milking-shed and dairy accommodation has also 

 been effected, to allow of more expeditious vvorking. The larger portion 

 of the general farming, as well as the dairying work, is carried out by 

 the several members of the familx , each having charge of some particular 

 section. All hired help is thus directly under interested supervision at all 

 times ; a method found to give satisfactory results. 



Mr. Kerr, senr., has a turn for invention; and many notions are seen 

 put to practical test throughout the dairy section of the farm, particularly 

 among the utensils. Mr. Kerr is also recognised here as the originator 

 of the lever system of l)ail-closing in the milking-shed. This idea was 

 introduced by him 26 years ago; and it is now universally accepted as the 

 most handy method of dealing with large herds. 



