TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2356, 16 August 1887, Page 3

TE AWAMUTU.

ENSir.AOK. Mil KtiTHßlU'Oiii) has taken a now and successful departure in preparing ensilage. Last spring he sowed about two acres of maize, with the viowof experimenting in the direction of a new stylo of silo, new at any rate as regards maize. Hitherto it has been customary to construct silos by digging pits m the ground, but sometime ago “silo stacks” were built in the other island with success, but I believe maize was not so treated, pits being used for that fodder. Mr Rutherford, however, determined to try the stack system for maize and his experiment has proved a most umpialilied success. The method is very simple. The stack which is about eighteen feet long, by about twelve wide, wasbuiltin the ordinary way : Planks about I) .X t! were laid upon it cross ways, and on these piankx were laid bags filled with earth to give the necessary pressure. Only twenty-seven sacks were rerpdred for the whole stack, those round the sides and ends wore laid closely, (hat is with their ends touching each other, the remainder being disposed in the centre, straw was then built upon the top and properly thatched so as to make the stack waterproof, the sides having previously been properly trimmed, and the pieces put on the top of the green maize before the planks were laid on, so that there should be as little wastn as possible. (Ircat heat was soon generated, greater than one could bear one's hand in, for it having been tested by thrusting in a slick and holding it there for a short time, it was found, on being withdrawn, to be uncomfortably hot. As a matter of course, the mass fermented, and many were the predictions that the experiment would be a failure, and that wheu it cooled it would bo found to have rotted, an idea which was probably suggested by the outside of the stack, which was in that state. The silo was opened about a week ago, and with the exception of about a foot in from the sides and about four inches under the planks, the ensilage was perfect. It was given to the dairy cmvs, who ate it greedily. Indeed they prefer it to any other kind of food. A “bench,” about six feet long, by about four feet wide, was cut, and about three inches deep of this cut gives enough food for eight cows at a meal. That number has bean fed for a week, most of the lime twice a day, and not quite three feet in depth have been cut away. This will give soma idea of the great pressure there must have been to consolidate it so much. Horses do not care much about it, but some pigs, to which some was given, eat it readily. The odour of fermentation is very perceptible, being very like the “mash” in a brewery. In appearance, the ensilage resembles maize that has been soaked in water, and instead of turning yellow, or looking withered, the colour is a dull green, all the moisture being retained, tor it can be easily squeezed or wrung out by the hand. As it stands now the stack is not more than half its original height. That it is eminently suitable as food for dairy cattle, has bean amply proved by Mr Rutherford, for the quality as well as the quantity of the milk has been very much improved, and the butter, since the cows have been fed with it has greatly improved in flavour. As far as maize is concerned, this upsets the idea entertained by some that ensilage is not at all suitable food for milking covs. [ saw by one of the papers (American if I remember correctly) that in one of the States one of the conditions at the cheese factories was that no milk irom ensilage fed cows would be received. This objection, judging by the case referred to, does not apply to maize, consequently the advantages of this system to dairymen cannot be over estimated, but to effectually solve the question, other fodder than that could he tried, but even, if other lands were found to be unsuitable, maize can always be grown for the purpose. The process is very simple and inexpensive and five or six acres of good land would yield a large supply of good winter teed. Mr Rutherford is to bo congratulated on the success of Ins experiment, not the slightest sign of mould or mildew being present, even the blossoms of the maize are perfect, the cobs are there, but of course have shrunk considerably, but one which happened to bo fairly matured was found to be fairly perfect. In filling a largo silo on a farm in France, the experiment of putting clover and grass while wet from recent rains was tried without any ill effect whatever, so that external moisture from rain or dew would bo no drawback, and the work need not be delayed till that dried off. That grass and green oats could bo siloed in stack form successfully has, as stated, boon proved, but as far as [ am aware tins is the first time maize has been so triad. The taste is somewhat acid or sour, not very pleasant to the human palate, but it is greatly relished by the cows, who let none of it go to waste. Mr Rutherford will bo glad to show any one who likes his silo stack, and explain everything in connection with it.

I.OCAL IXVK.NTIVK (JKXIfS. To Mr Sinden, of Alexandra, belongs the credit of having discovered tho method of saving line gold by forcing the "dirt” in which it is contained through a quicksilver bath. The process is a simple one, and Mr Fraser (a member of the Hrm who are making the plant) says, tho wonder is that it was never thought of before. Mr .Sinden has patented his invention. Ho has also discovered a process by which tho hardest quartz can bo rendered so soft that it can easily bo powdered between tho fingers. This, I believe, he has also patented. A man who has spent a long time on the Thames goldfield told mo that the difficulty in treating sonic of tho stone was duo to tho presence of sulphides, which prevented tho gold amalgamating with tho quicksilver, but that the action of lire (part of Mr Sinden's process in softening tho stone) destroyed them ; consequently lie considered that the stone treated by Mr Sinden’s plan could afterwards bo put through his silver bath and ninety poi cent, of the gold saved. He believed that five penny-weights of gold to tho ton of such stuff as is on Mr Smith's place at Waitoa would pay very well. If this turns out according to anticipation, it will mean a new era of prosperity for the whole of Waikato, for a very large population would find remunerative employment on tho goldfields. Mr Sinden possesses great inventive genius, and is an exceedingly skilful worker in iron. The pity is that ho is not in soma place where his undoubted talents would have greater scope. I hope Ins experiments will prove as successful as he anticipates, for tho wlioh- Country as well as lie will greatly benefit ny them.—(Own Correspondent,)