1 Avea., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 111 
The cornstalks with the cobs attached are placed in a slanting position, 
leaning against each other in the four angles formed by the beam and cross bar 
shown in the diagram, A simple iron winch has a half-inch rope attached to it, 
which rope passes through a hole at one end of a piece of 3 by 1 inch batten, 
and is made fast to the other end. When sufficient stalks are piled against 
each other pyramid-fashion, the rope is passed round them, and the winch is 
turned, winding up the slack of the rope till the stalks are firmly squeezed 
together. The top of the stook is then secured with a piece of cord, the winch 
is slacked off, the cross bar and beam (which is also a3 by 2 inch batten) 
are withdrawn, and the stook stands firm and solid defying the entrance of rain 
water. 
Within the spacious barn is the framework of a silo calculated to hold 
about 60 tons of silage. This will shortly be completed, and a carrier will be 
attached to the chaffcutter, by which the material to be ensilaged will be 
conveyed to the top of the silo. A further improvement is contemplated, 
which is to run an overhead frame trolly which will at one lift unload the 
contents of a wagon and place the load in the most convenient position for 
chaffing. The doors of the barn, like those of the cowshed, run on iron castors 
in grooves, and the openings are wide enough to admit a wagon drawn by two 
horses. The wooden tramway from the milking-shed brings the trolly right up 
to the barn door, where it is loaded straight from the chaffcutter. Leaving the 
barn with its ingenious appliances, we proceed to the blacksmith’s shop (Hig. 4), 
which is a neat iron structure, replete with all the requisites for making horse- 
shoes and such other iron work as is required on the farm. A boring machine is 
driven by a horse gear near the entrance—another saving of hand labour. 
Here are being executed several orders for the machinery of a patent 
connected with a dip which has been constructed on the farm. 
This dip is called a ‘Cage Dip” (Fig.5), and although there are other cage 
dips in one or two districts, yet the arrangements in connection with that of the 
Messrs. Skerman are so perfect as to merit for it almost the claim to its being 
an invention, which, however, those gentlemen distinctly disclaim. The only 
invention about it is the appliance for lowering and raising the cage, which 
appliance has been patented. So well does it work that half-a-dozen orders 
have been given for the manufacture of the apparatus, and these orders, as 
stated, are being now executed on the spot. 
We will try and describe the dip, cage, and appliances. 
In the first place, there is a yard leading to a gradually narrowing crush. 
At the end of the crush is the dip pit. On either side of the pit are two 
sliding doors shown in the picture, and over the fluid hangs the cage, which is 
somewhat like a barred horse box. Near the top of the cage is a grating, 
which can be raised or lowered. This grating prevents a beast raising its 
head above the fluid. 
The cage floor when raised is exactly on a level with the floor of the crush 
on one side and with the dripping floor on the other. The cage itself is 
suspended from a rope leading to the capstan, by which it is raised after 
immersion. As the beasts come down the crush one by one (it is too narrow 
for them to pass each other or to turn round), the first one steps fearlessly on to 
the cage floor, and the door immediately closes behind it. It cannot pass out at 
the other end as the exit is also blocked by the second door. As soon as the 
cow is in the cage the patent brake is touched, and the cage descends gently 
until the overhead grating is submerged (igs. 6 and 7), when itis at once brought 
up to the surface by means of the capstan, worked by a horse. The back door 
is opened, and the cow walks out into the dripping-pen. ‘here are two of these 
Rene each capable of holding ten cows. They are left there until the last one has 
een dripping for ten minutes, when they are released. Meanwhile the second 
pen is brought into requisition, ten minutes being allowed for dripping, and so 
on till the herd has all been through. The exit gates (Fig. 8) from these pens are 
opened by means of heavy counterpoises attached to cords passing overhead 
over pulleys, which raise the gates by a slight downward pull by the attendant. 
