FILLING THE SILO. 349 



degree of moisture in the crops, the amount of the 

 tramping that should be given, and the size of the 

 mow are all important considerations. Clover is 

 commonly allowed to wilt a little before being thus 

 stored and the same is true of cowpeas and soy 

 beans. Some authorities claim that the wilting 

 should be continued until it is no longer possible to 

 wring much water out of the green mass. Much 

 tramping is also considered advantageous, and a deep 

 mow is preferable to a shallow one. Likewise outer 

 walls smooth on the inside are more favorable to the 

 settling of the food than those with horizontal tim- 

 bers, as girts, to hinder the proper settling down of 

 the same. Not a few who have tried to preserve 

 food thus have signally failed. Closely connected 

 with such instances of failure is the hazard of loss 

 to the building as well, through fire produced by 

 what is termed spontaneous combustion. But since 

 cowpeas and soy beans are difficult to cure in the 

 dry form without much loss of leaves, it may be wise 

 to try and cure them thus, more especially when 

 there is much hazard from rain. 



