PRESERVING GRASS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 21

PRESERVING GRASS

BY C. E. COMING

CONTINENTAL METHODS ADVANTAGE TO FARMERS

According to a London report in the Weekly News, great hopes are entertained of the process of drying grass, the making of " grass cakes," at the Jealott Hill Experimental Station. All the report says in favour of the feeding value of grass cake is quite true. Tests conducted several years ago, showed that beef Cattle were fed most successfully on grass cake, and butchers could not tell the difference between the beef from cattle fed with grass cake and the beef of cattle fed on grass. On my desk is a sample of grass cake secured by tho New Zealand Department of Science and Industrial Research over four years ago, and it is in excellent condition. It would be a remarkably fine thing for all grassland farmers could they take advantage of the principle of drying grass cut in the absolute leaf stage and compressed in the form of cakes; indeed, it would be impossible to over-estimate the import ance of it.

But as a practical proposition, it is still very much in tho air. For a good many years now, Imperial Chemical Industries has been conducting experiments in regard to grass cake, not so much to prove its feeding value—that is undoubted—'but to discover, if possible, simple methods of drying and compressing tho dried grass into cakes, but so far we have had no indication that success is in sight. Colonel Pollitt, who recently visited New Zealand, said his company waft still looking for a simple enough process which would make the conversion of grass into grass cakes an attractive proposition for tho farmer. At present, tho process was too costly. In consequence research officers were experimenting with silage made by the Finnish process, in which acids, of which hydrochloric acid is the principal one, is used to stop all fermentation and thereby preserve tho grass or fodder, in practically its original condition. Size ol Containers The London article referred to spoke of stocking the grass in huge containers. As a matter of fact, the grass or fodder is stacked in quite small containers. The common size used in Finland is 16Jft. in diameter, but on tho smaller farms the feilo is only about 10ft. in diameter. The silos are made of wood and in two parts, the bottom, or true silo, and an upper part which is used when the grass is being ensiled and which is removed as tho silago sinks into the silo proper. The bottom silo is only sft. in height, and is sunk into tho ground to a depth of lift, to 4ft., " according to the height of the water table or the facilities available for drainage. The silo is banked up with the soil excavated, in order to exclude air completely as is possible. When the silo is full, the upper, or temporary silo, is brought into operation. This " over " silo is 6'ft. in height. It is built in sections, to facilitate lifting and fitting, and when in position the sections are held together by iron bands bolted together. When the silage has finally subsided into the silo proper, tho " over " silo is removed, the silo then presenting the appearance of a flattish cone.

It will thus be seen that the Finnish silos are quite small affairs compared with silos as wo know them. Feeding Trials

A number of feeding trials with A.I.V. silage (A.I.V. are the initials of the French inventor), -are being conducted throughout Britain, and it will bo interesting to seo v.'hen the results of these aro published if the Finnish claims aro supported. Particulars may be shortly expected of tho German system of making silago with molasses. High claims are made for the sugar process. It should be simpler and cheaper than tho Finnish method. A crude trial of it has been made in South Auckland. When the silage comes to be fed out, some idea of the value of it for stock-feeding will be available. Certainly, tho use of molasses should add to the vood value of tho silage, and some molasses in the winter months is decidedly beneficial. With A.I.V* silage, there is a possible trouble which may have to be neutralised when the Kilage is fed out. Tho ash of A.I.V. silage, it is said, has a basic reaction, and a neutralising salt may have to be added as a safeguard against acidity. Virtanen, tho inventor, recommends that lime and sodium carbonate should bo given with the silage, to 601b. of the feed, 2oz. of lime, and loz. of sodium carbonate being sufficient. Again, when the filling of the Finnish silo is completed an anti-mould preparation called " Homesurma " (mildew death), is applied, to prevent mould formation, to which tho degree of acidity developed makes the silago somewhat susceptible.