672 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTELY. 



strengthening bis fetters fairly begins. After tbe first film of ice 

 is formed, tbe freezing goes on directly downward as tbe beat from 

 tbe water radiates off into tbe colder air above. Tbe direction of crys- 

 tallization bas cbanged, and is now at rigbt angles to tbat in wbich it 

 began. Unbindered radiation of beat from tbe water out into tbe air 

 is tbe secret of tbe continued formation of ice. If anything occurs to 

 prevent tbis, tbe ice stops forming beneatb. A fall of snow upon tbe 

 already-made ice greatly retards its continued formation. 



Some of tbe elder ice-barvesters still foster a feeble flame upon tbe 

 broken altars of tbe old star-worsbipcrs in tbeir belief tbat tbe cold 

 rays from tbe winter moon and stars favor in some mysterious way 

 tbe growth of their ice, since tbis forms best on tbe clearest nights. 

 "Who would dispel tbis chaste illusion by suggesting tbat tbe clouds 

 w^bich draw themselves at times over the faces of their gentle deities 

 delay tbe fruition of tbeir hopes simply by preventing the escape of 

 the earth's beat off into space ? In the vicinity of New York, where 

 open winters are so common and changes of temperature are so great 

 and frequent, tbe formation of the ice is a matter of tbe greatest solici- 

 tude to tbe ice-farmer, upon whose vigilance and judgment may large- 

 ly depend both the value and abundance of bis winter's crop. 



Let us suppose that Winter is fairly in possession along tbe river. 

 Tbe storage-houses, machinery, and tools for harvesting the ice are in 

 order. Many of tbe horses which have dragged tbe last year's crop 

 in its daily distribution about tbe town have been brought up on tbe 

 returning empty barges to recruit a little before tbeir winter's work 

 begins. Tbe men who are to engage in the harvesting are beginning 

 to straggle in to make their arrangements. A certain number of these 

 are regular employes of the companies who work in town during the 

 summer. Then along tbe Hudson many of tbe workers are farmers 

 from tbe adjacent country, w^ho, not over-busy in the winter, come 

 down singly or in squads, looking upon their term of service to the 

 ice companies as a sort of lark with a pecuniary bias. Then there is a 

 large number of rovers, living, Heaven only knows bow, through the 

 rest of the year, who straggle along tbe river, work long enough to 

 keep themselves drunk for a day or a week, and then brace up for an- 

 other turn on tbe same or on a different field. 



While all these forces are gathering toward tbe ice-harvesting 

 centers, the superintendent is keeping a sharp lookout on tbe forma- 

 tion of the ice. The field bas to be staked out as early as possible in 

 order to secure it against invasion by competitors. It used to be 

 necessary to make a fence four feet high around a pre-empted ice-field 

 in order to legally secure it, but stakes or twigs stuck in tbe ice four 

 feet apart are deemed sufl!5cient now. 



While the weather is clear and cold, and the colder and clearer the 

 better, all goes well with tbe growing crop as slowly the water yields 

 itself into its crystal bonds, and tbe domain of the clear, solid ice creeps 



