no Nov., 1909.] T//e Silo i)i the Lilydale District. 



68 r 



•to hold 100 tons. A dividing wall of brick was built across it two seasons 



-ago for convenience of working. The smaller top surface of each section 

 now allows for more even spreading of the material when filling ; and it 

 also reduces the possibility of waste when using, such as might occur through 



-having too large a surface exposed to the air. One of these pits was filled 

 with oats this season ; 3I acres of this crop providing silage for 25 cows 

 for six weeks. Eleven acres of maize also were grown. Of this a large portion 

 was fed to the cows green, and the balance was siloed. This pit at first 

 gave a good deal of trouble with side waste ; through, it was supposed, the 

 bricks in the walls being soft and admitting air. This porous condition 

 of the wall surface was, however, much improved by giving it a coating 



•of tar when the pit was emptied; and with another dressing it is expected 

 that it will be made impervious to air or water, and completely satisfactory 



.in its workinLT. 



iriialnivw'Mili 



WOOD AND IRON OVERlll.Ah SlLo, MR. L. LITHGOW S FARM. 



As compared with those mentioned, all the rest of the farmers now 

 making silage in the Lilydale Shire are new to the work; but, with the 

 exceptions mentioned at the beginning, their results have been equally 

 satisfactory. Among them, Mr. Gilbert, of Yering, may be specially men- 

 tioned as getting very excellent returns from his stock on maize silage. In 

 February last his 28 cows were yielding 50 gallons of milk daily. At the 

 end of July, 21 head were giving 43 gallons. The additional feed 

 purchased in this in.stance was only 14 bushels of bran weekly. This silo 

 is one of the circular wooden-framed iron-lined silos erected by the De- 

 partment, which are giving general satisfaction. 



The largest of the new overhead silos in the shire is that on the farm 

 of Mr. L. Lithgow at Yering; it has a capacity of 120 tons and has been 

 in use two .seasons. Twelve acres of maize are grown for a herd of 70 

 milkers ; and in addition to the silo full of chaffed maize, there was also 

 this year a stack containing about 25 to 30 tons. This latter, being in 

 the stalk, was fed in the paddock to the dry stock ; and a good deal of it 

 -was wasted through being trampled on and soiled by the cattle. 



