lo Nov., 1909-] T/ie Stlfl in tlie Lilydalc District. 679 



stalk and distributed there. The pits are filled as the maize reaches the 

 ripening stage and any surplus then is made to stack silage. 



Mr. H. Parfitt, of Yering, also commenced making silage about 20 years 

 .ago; no exact record having been kept of the year. The pit used was an 

 unlined excavation in the hillside, having one end open and a roadway 

 from it to back the cart into when removing the silage. This pit was not 

 lined ; and of late years was not used, and allowed to get out of repair. 

 Two seasons ago, however, it was lined with corrugated iron, and again 

 filled, and it was also in use this past year. Its capacity is estimated at 

 about 100 tons. Eighteen acres of maize are grown for a herd of 50 cows. 



Another pit of much the same size and shape as the last-mentioned, is 

 that on Mr. T. Mclntyre's farm at Yering. This one, however, is 

 bricked on the bottom, sides, and one end. It has also a 5-foot corrugated 

 iron top to the walls to assist in the filling. Silage has been made here for 

 eleven years in succession. Twenty-seven acres of maize are grown for 

 70 cows. 



Probably the most consistent feeder throughout the year on silage in this 

 district is Mr. Robert Blair, of Mooroolbark, whose exhibit of this fodder 

 at the Royal Agricultural Show attracts considerable attention each year, 

 its quality being excellent. On 126 acres he milks from 24 to 28 cows 

 dailv the whole year. The grazing land is subdivided into a number of 

 paddocks, and sown with mixed grasses. This is well looked after, not 

 being grazed too close at any time, and each paddock is top-dressed with 

 manure and fertilizers as necessary. Ten acres of maize, and 11 acres of 

 oats, are sown for fodder each .season. Seven years ago, a rough slab 

 and paling enclosure was built in the side of the hill, above and adjoining 

 the milking shed. This was about 24 feet long by t6 feet wide, and the 

 surplus of the maize crop of that season was chaffed into this. When 

 settled the material was about 7 feet deep ; and the quantity was estimated 

 at about 30 tons. This fodder storage proving successful, the work was 

 continued vearly ; until, in the fourth vear from starting, a portion of the 

 oat crop was also made to silage and used while the maize was growing, 

 the cows giving very good returns on this feeding. Before the next season's 

 harvest was at hand a round brick pit 14 feet high, by 11 feet diameter 

 was built ; 6 feet of the wall being below ground level. This pit was used 

 in addition to the slab silo, both oaten and maize silage again being made. 

 Then the following season the slab structure was taken down ; the brick 

 silo was increased in height by 10 feet, and another — a larger one — 24 feet 

 high by 18 feet diameter, was also built. Mr. Blair estimates the capacity 

 -of these pits as 40-ton: and 70-ton respectively. The smaller one was filled 

 in December last with oats cut from 3! acres. This was opened for feeding 

 on 20th January, and lasted about 80 days. Both pits were then filled 

 with maize, and the silage from these has been fed from that time at the 

 rate of about 45 lbs. per cow per dav ; and is experted to last well into 

 the spring. 



Mr. Blair estimates the difference in qualitv between his oaten and his 

 maize silage to be equal to about an extra 2 lbs. of bran daily in favour of 

 the oats. This, however, is with maize sown broadcast, and consequently 

 not well cobbed. As yet none of these farms mentioned have taken up the 

 drill sowing of maize for their main crop, which accounts for the com- 

 parative large acreage of maize sown to the silage conserved. As a general 

 thing, there has usually been a sufficient rainfall in the summer to give 

 a fair growth of maize here, and some of the farms also have irrigation 

 facilities. Up to recently the owners have been satisfied if thev obtained 



