ENSILAGE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14276, 12 February 1912, Page 6

ENSILAGE.

Recent statements regarding some experiments that have been carried out by the officials of the Agricultural Department, in utilising the California*thistle, in conjunction with other fodder crops, in the making of ensilage, are of considerable interest. The experiments have shown that the thistle has at least some feeding value, though they do not very much advance the methods for the eradication of the pest: it is merely making the best of a bad job. However, tho experiment will have tho effect of calling attention once again to the value of silage as a food for stock, particularly dairy cattle, and the more often this point is emphasised the more likely will Canterbury farmers be to take up this method of food conservation. If there is one thing more than another that is conspicuous by its absonco on farms in the South Island it is tho silo, or the stack of silage. Tho first is, we believe, practically non-existent, while the latter is a rare sight indeed. This is all the rooro inexplicable when we remember tho success that has attended tho making of silage in those comparatively few cases where it has been attempted in a sensible and scientific manner. A season such as-we have had this year, when there has been so much iraiu and a consequent difficulty in the proper curing of the hay-crop, would' have few terrors for tho farmer who relied upon silago for. his winter feed, while repeated experiments have placed beyond all doubt the value of ensilage and its palatableness so far as stock aro concerned. In tho United States, in England, in Europe, and in tho dairying districts of Australia, the sight of concrete, iron, or wooden silos'is common., and. the point as to whether tho silo system is a paying ono has been definitely and satisfactorily settled in the affirmative. Now that increased attention is being paid to dairying matters in. Canterbury, it is time that some of tho moire enterprising farmers started the making of ensilage, particularly as the Agricultural Department has an expert whose mission is to givo all the available information about the subject to those who desire it.

Lord Haldane is the best German scholar in the English Ministry, and. one of tho best in England. He is also on very friendly personal terms with the Kaiser. It is perhaps only natural that at tho present critical juncture, when public opinion in both countries is in an oxcit-ed condition, his visit to Germany, and hi- luncheon with the Kaiser, tho Chancellor, and the Director of Foreign Affairs, should give rise to an impression that his journey has somo important diplomatic significance. It is a curious coincidence that, almost simultaneously. Mr Winston Churchill, in a speech at Glasgow, was emphasising the necessity of Britain maintaining her naval supremacy. In a tone of scarcely-veiled threat, he added that while they would welcome any slackening of construction on the Continent, any increase would be met by increased construction in England.

In view of the explicit statement issued by the Foreign Office, we do not believe that Lord Haldane has gone to Germany charged with any special mission to try to bring about an AngloGerman "rapprochement," especially in tho matter of slackening off in the present mad contest in the matter of building battleships. Donbtless Lord Haldano will keep his eyes and ears open, and if he can see any chance of paviivg tho way for an improved state of affairs between tho two countries he will do what he can to foster a more friendly feeling. Every sensible man would rejoice to sco better relations between these two great countries, as long as it involves no surrender of principle or of vital interests on the part of either. Meanwhile, we doubt if Mr Churchill's minatory remarks will have the effect of smoothing the way cf any would-be peacemakers. It will be seen that in view of the comment excited by Lord Haldane'3 visit, Edward Grey has thought it advisable to assuro both Franco and Russia that they will "be duly kept informed should Lord Haldane enter into any diplomatic negotiations with Germany. This is as it should be. . England is not in the habit of going behind the backs cf

her friends to negotiate with other Powers, and it is now mado clear that sho is not going to begin to do _o now.

A recent visitor to the W'aitomo caves has brought back a striking illustration of the methods of the present Government in putting political interests first/ and "the public benefit second, especially in the matter of public works expenditure. Before the recent election, the Government promised that if the residents in the district would make themselves liable for a loan of £4000, and rate themselves fo pay the interest, for the purpose cf putting the road between Hangatiki railway station in good order, the Government would contributo £4000 towards the same work. The settlers agreed to the loan, and made all tho necessary arrangements, and the £4000 subsidy was placed on the Estimates and voted by Parliament. Unfortunately, the settlers waited till after the election before they made application for the money, and then they wero told they could not have it. No reason was assigned, but in view of the fact that the district has turned. out Mr Jennings, and elected a Reform candidate, the settlers havo drawn their own conclusions. How necessary is the work is evidenced by the fact that, after heavy rain recently, it took the coach two and a half hours to traverse six miles between Hangatiki and tho Government Accommodation House at Waitomo, and on some occasions passengers had to get out of the coach before the horses could move it. Seeing that the road is so largely used by visitors to the caves and Accommodation House, it is quite a fair arrangement that tho Government should contributo towards the cost of making the roads. It would bo interesting to .know how many other promises and undertakings given before tho election have been broken so soon as a candidate not of tho right colour has been returned.

The statement, reported in our cable news this morning, that the Lord Chamberlain's resignation is understood to be partly due to the controversy over tho censorship of plays, will surprise no one who has followed the vagaries of that astonishing department. For a long timo past the decisions of tho Readers of Plays, who is under the Lord Chamberlain, and the fiats of tho Lord Chamberlain himself, have seriously hampered tho intellectual drama in England, and contributed to the gaiety of nations. Wo are not among thoso who think that the abolition of the censorship would be an unmixed blessing, and wo havo no liking for that development of tho advanced school known as tho obstetric drama. But tho gravest charge against tho censorship is that while it bans serious plays of great literary and dramatic value (and sometimes of direct moral value), it licenses the giddy and sugcestive French farce, which makes vice attractive and fashionable. <

Thero have been other decisions, some exasperating, some humorous, some both. For some of these the Lord Chamberlain was directly responsible. There was the banning of the "Mikado" uusic at the time of Princo Fushimi's visit; and tho licensing of "Salome" on condition that a few trivial alterations were made that, did not in the least lessen the unpleasantness of the play. The crowning decision was tho censoring of a bathing scene in tho Eastern play "Kismet," because a young girl appeared, very unobtrusively, in tights. No one had raised the slightest objection to the incident. Tho King and Queen had seen th© play, and liked it so well that tho Queen took the Princo of Wales to see it. But, after it had been played for somo months tho Censor suddenly ordered tho scene to be altered. Of course everybody laughed.

The dissatisfaction of the littlo band of writers who havo done so much for English drama in the last decade or two led to the appointment of a Royal Commission, which recommended the appointment of an advisory committee. On© of tho cases instanced before the Commission of wrong-headedness of the whole system was the licensing of "Dear Old Charlie," an adaptation by Mr Charles E. Brookfield of a French farce. "Dear Old Charlie" was about one of those "gay dogs"' who make love to other men's wives, and the Press criticised it sharply as unedifying. Last year this same Mr Brookfield wrote an article in tho "National Review" on tho English drama, in which ho said that the palmy days of the drama ended with the introduction of Ibsen into England.. Barrie, Galsrorthy, Shaw and others, were placed below Byron and Robertson! Judge, thon, of the indignation of critics and playwrights, when it was announced a few months ago that Mr Brookfield had been appointed a reader of plays, to assist Mr Redford. The thing was almost incredible. It was an insult to every serious playwright, and another proof of the divorco between British officialdom and art.