252 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Aprin, 1898. 
One of the great needs of farmers, especially dairy farmers, in Queens- 
land is the adoption of a system of providing food for their stock in times of 
winter and drought. Since I saw ensilage used in Canada in 1894, I have not. 
ceased to advocate its use here, and it is with the hope that the prejudice 
against this “new” plan of cattle-feeding may be the more quickly overcome, 
and as a sort of official Jeave-taking of my agricultural friends on the occasion 
cf handing over the Department to the present Minister, that I have ventured 
to put what I know of the subject upon paper. Ensilage, however, is not 
quite “‘new’’ even in Queensland, as Messrs. Archer, of Gracemere, have been 
making it in quantities of from 400 tons to 600 tons a year for ten years or 
twelve years, and this year have increased their silo capacity to about 1,000 
tons. They state that the cost is only 4s. to 4s. 6d. per ton, including culti- 
vation and all other expenses, and. they were last year enabled, during a bad 
season, to keep their 250 milch cows in splendid condition. A fair crop of 
weill-grown maize should give 15 tons per acre. With the general adoption 
of the system, how many hundreds of thousands of dairy cows could be kept 
in this colony of ours! 
HOW TO BUILD A TUB SILO. 
Mr. Jackson, the manager of the Experimental Farm at Wollongbar, has 
erected a small “tub silo,” which it is intended to exhibit at the Lismore 
Show. Fora ‘tub silo”? 20 feet high, 18 feet in diameter, the following 
specification will answer :—Two-inch planks, 20 feet long, formed in the shape 
of a cistern; a temporary rim may be placed inside until the hoops are put 
on, after which the temporary rim is removed. Seven hoops of #-inch iron ; 
each hoop in two pieces; and each piece with a bolt and nut. Ends passed 
through a cast-iron block about 6 inches long, with two holes through, so as to 
let the ends pass each other. When all planks are in position the hoops are 
put on and drawn up tight by means of the nuts. The “tub” is set on a 
plank foundation. Three holes about 22 inches by 26 inches to admit of 
emptying the silo as required for feeding ; fitted with bevelled planks that can 
be removed as required. ‘These openings will be placed on opposite sides to 
each other; one on the upper portion, one at the centre, and one at the lower 
portion of the silo. To build: Level the ground, strike your circle of 
planking ; lay it, and cut the ends so that they will fit. Have hoops ready, and 
lay on the circle to see that they are of proper size; raise one of them, 
say 12 feet, with stays, so that it will be ina position exactly over the other. 
Raise the other 2 inches or 3 inches from the foundation by means of 
blocks; set up the first plank, having a man on each side of it with a ladder or 
other means of reaching the upper hoop. Drive a 4-inch nail into the plank, 
so that when bent up it will catch the hoop and hold it in place. Do the same 
with bottom hoop. When all planks are similarly placed in position, tighten 
the two hoops, then the other hoops may be put on. If the timber is dry, do 
not strain the hoops too much, or they may burst. Any roof will do: a few 
poles thrown across with straw thatch; a tarpaulin; galvanised sheet iron; or 
bark. it doors in the cut holes with bevelled edges. If crop too large to fill, 
wait a week or so for subsidence and then go on again. Tramp well down, 
especially round the edges., Fill slowly, as thus a higher temperature is 
reached, 1380 degrees to 145 degrees for good sweet ensilage; and a 100-ton 
silo takes six days to eight days in filling, with three wagons at work. When 
complete, place L foot of hay or cut straw (watered) on the top, and tramp 
well, for a cover. The silo erected at the farm is on a very reduced scale, 
probably ‘carrying 5 or 6 tons of ensilage; but is sufficient to answer the 
purpose of illustrating how and what may be done. ‘The specification first of 
all provides: Level floor, 8 feet square, of eight 12-inch by 14-inch boards. 
Upon this another layer of 12-inch by 1}-inch boards is placed transversely, 
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