682 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Nov., 1909^ 



For two seasons past Mr. G. Grey, of Lilydale — who has a small farm, 

 adjoining Mr. A. B. Taylor's — has successfully used an overground slab 

 silo built somewhat on the same principle as the first one used by Mr. 

 Blair. This is 14 feet by 16 feet, and 9 feet high. Five acres of maize 

 are grown and fed to about fifteen cows. Where bush timber is plentiful 

 the cost of a silo need be little more than the price of the labour employed 

 in its making. 



Throughout the Upper Yarra Shire, which adjoins that of Lilydale. 

 dairy farming is at present only carried out on a somewhat small scale : 

 but on four farms silage was made this past year ; and others are also 

 preparing to take on the work this coming season. 



With three years' experience, Mr. John Smith of East Warburton is 

 worthy of mention. His silo is a large slab room 18 by 16 by 10 feet, 

 adjoining his milking-shed ; and the fodder is put into it without chaffing. 

 In addition to his silo full of oats he had, this past season, about 20 tons- 

 of maize in stack. The oaten silage was cut into on the side. Part of 

 this face, which had been cut down with a hay knife, was covered with a 



The drawback to this silo is that, being on level ground, the tilling must be done by hand, whereas, in 

 a hillside position, the material would fall in direct from the chatfcutter. 



plaster of earth to ascertain if silage could be j>reserved from rotting by 

 this means. The experiment was not successful, as there were a few inches- 

 of mould behind the earth when it was remo\ed. On the whole, however, 

 both lots of silage on Mr. Smith's farm were a success. In the maize 

 stack it was estimated there was not 50 lbs. of fodder wasted. 



This farm is some 8 miles past Warburton, high up in the valley of the 

 Cement Creek, which is one of the numerous mountain streams flowing into 

 the Upper Yarra. Owing to the situation, cartage to the farm in this and 

 similar localities is very expensive. Owners are therefore practically com- 

 pelled to produce on their farms everything that they use in the wav of stock 

 fodder. This they are able to do, as the soil, which is a red volcanic, is very 

 fertile. Cocksfoot and the clovers make good pasture where sown. A 

 tall-'Trowing native fodder plant, somewhat resembling millet, and known 

 as the " wild oat", makes a heavy growth on the upper ranges during the 

 summer months, and stock fatten very quickly on it. In the winter these 

 same rano-es are verv often impassable with snow ; and, when left to forage 

 for themselves, stock are then frequently lost from starvation. In its 

 natural state this countrv is very heavilv timbered, and a lot of burning- 

 off has to be done before the land is cleared for cultivation. This work 



