VISITS TO FARMS

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1790, 10 December 1936, Page 4

VISITS TO FARMS

BY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS Ensilage at ‘ Mount View ’ ’ The first of a series of visits made possible by the co-ordination of the farmers of the district was made recently by a party of the agricultural students of the Matamata District, High School, arid they gained first-hand knowledge of ensilage-making at Mr. A. E. Diprose’s farm, <r Mount View.”

Diprose, on welcoming the boys, took considerable care to explain everything and to give his valued opinion on all questions put to him.

On outlining his methods he first of all pointed out the advantages of working two pits at a time. In this way one is filled loosely and left to attain the correct temperature while attention is given to the other, taking about three days on each. As the capacity of each is large (150 tons), Mr. Diprose uses a mechanic-ally-drawn loader, the working of which was explained to the interested lads. w . The visitors then walked to the pits to note the dimensions and to see how the location was selected, not only for convenience in loading and feeding-out, but also with a view to securing a coarse pumice bade for drainage. T Si

The boys were fortunate to seethfe completion of the second stage of filling the pit. The grass was loaded in and pressed down by a horse. This pit was worked alternate days with a second pit until both were filled. The final filling brought the ensilage a few feet above the sides, but on adding a few inches of earth it soon settles flush.

Prompted by the knowledge that they were on one of the foremost farms of the district, carrying as it does a beast to every one of its 113 acres, the boys then questioned Mr. Diprose as to details. It was explained that the grass was cut before the seed heads were completely uncovered and that every effort was made to get a second growth away quickly. In feeding out, one part of hay was given with three parts of ensilage, and the latter was always of the sweet type. After a tour round the farm the visitors were surprised by Mrs! Diprose, who had prepared afternoon tea for- them, thus bringing a pleas-antly-instructive afternoon to a still more enjoyable conclusion.