10 Sept., 1910.] 



Dairying luith Pure Stock. 



557 



Following on advice from officers of the Dairy Supervision Branch, 

 one silo was erected in 1907, and another in the following year, and the 

 results from their use have been very satisfactory. No concentrated food 

 is found necessary with this silage, and in July last 55 cows, on pastures 

 and maize silage alone, were giving 103 gallons of milk daily, which speaks 

 well for the quality or the fodder. Besides growing all the fodders re- 

 quired for the farm use, there is usually enough hay to allow of a surplus 

 being sold; in the autumn of 1908, the cash receipts from this source ran 

 into a substantial amount. 



The creek running through the property provides permanent water for 

 the stock, and as the Dandenong service pipe from Monbulk passes through 

 the farm, this supply is made use of for the requirements of the farm. 



MADGE II. 



The work of the farm is mainly dairying, but the stock kept are all 

 high-class Ayrshires, and considerable trade is done in the sale of pure 

 stock of this breed. The " Willow Vale" cattle have a very wide, and 

 sound reputation, both for show purposes and milk production, and about 

 30 calves from the best stock are raised each year, to support this out- 

 side demand for breeding stock. Some idea of the robust type of this 

 strain of Ayrshire stock can be gained from the accompanying photographs. 



With the assistance of two employes, the work of the farm is carried 

 out by the Selman family, and each section of the work is under the direct 

 supervision of one of the firm. 



A herd of 90 cows is kept, and of these, 70 are usually in milk. 

 During 1908 the milk produced by the whole herd amounted to 42,057 

 gallons, or an average of 467 gallons per cow, which for the number of 

 cows, inclusive of heifers, is a very creditable yield. The cash return from 

 this yield amounted to £,1,6^^^ 2s. 7d., or an average of about ;^i8 2s. 



