68o 



] ounidl of Agriculture. 



[lo Nov., 1909.. 



a sufficient bulk of fodder, and gave no attention to its quality. This last, 

 season, however, proved an exception to the a\'erage and most of the crops, 

 were considerably under the full requirements of the stock even in bulk ; 

 while the quality was much poorer than usual. Some small sowings on the 

 drill system were also made here last year ; and the yields from them were 

 much better comparatively than from the broadcast crops. Against maize 

 that has been grown under the old broadcast system, oats must always 

 compare very favourably as fodder if cut in the proper stage. But when 

 maize is properly grown, and so has a chance to cob well, the difference in 

 quality between the two fodders is very slight. In bulk return, also, oats 

 can never compare with drill sown maize as a material for silage. Actual 

 height of a maize crop is too often taken as indicative of a good yield, while 

 the possible quality is totally overlooked. Instances have been .seen, both 

 in this shire and elsewhere, in which cattle ha\'e been fed all thev could- 

 eat of the long spindly growth resulting from broadcast sowing, and they 

 actually lost condition on it. Yet the owners could not be persuaded that 

 it was their svstem of culti\ation that was at fault. Thev blame the- 



MR. R. BLAIR S BRICK SILOS. 



maize as a fodder in a general wa\ , despite the fact that properly growit 

 maize gives satisfaction every time. It is usually the man with the smalt' 

 acreage that gets the heaviest fields in his maize cropping ; for he is com- 

 pelled to work his ground to its best advantage. 



Mr. Blair's milking herd is a grade Ayrshire. Besides being well fed, 

 the cattle are closely culled. The result of the combination of these 

 methods is demonstrated in their last year's milk vicid which averaged 

 580 gallons per cow. 



On the farm of Mrs. Sherlock, at Mooroolbark, silage has been made on- 

 a small scale for seven sea.sons. Tlie fir.st silo here was an enclosure of old 

 railway sleepers in a large barn. Three years ago a pit was dug nearer 

 the milking .shed. The earth taken out was banked up round the top 

 against a .slab wall, making a pit i.^ feet deep, and 9 feet square through- 

 out. This holds about 1 5 tons of chaffed maize, which is used to feed six cows. 



Mr. W. Rae, also of Mooroolbark, has u.sed silage for his dairy herd 

 for five years. The pit here is a double one of brick, below ground level. 

 It was originally one large pit 20 feet bv 12 feet bv 13^ feet and estimated 



