442 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



increased 3,000 tnnp, 50 per ccur. of which is ordinarily melted before the car- 

 goes can be discharged. 



The consumption of ice in Boston and neighborhood in 1847 was 27,000 

 tons, which cost $.54,7G5. It retailed at an average price of about loj cents 

 per 100 pounds, making 27,000 tons to sell for 872,900, leaving a profit of 

 818,135 to be divided then among the seven principal ice dealers. 



As ice is used and shipped at all seasons, large ice-houses are required to 

 store and preserve it. Exclusive of the ice-houses at Oharlestown, in which 

 ice is kept for short periods, there had been erected in 1847 and previous 

 thereto — 



At Fresh pond, in Cambridge, ice-houses capable of holding 80,732 tons. 



At Spy pond, in West Cambridge 28,000 tons. 



At Little pond, West Cambridge 2,400 tons. 



At Wenham pond 13,000 tons. 



At Medford pond 4,000 tons. 



At Eel pond, in Maiden 2,000 tons. 



At Horn pond, in Wobum 4,000 tons. 



At Summer's pond 1,200 tons. 



Total 14J,S32 tons. 



In 1864 Mr. Addison Gage, of Boston, who has long been engaged in tlie 

 ice trade, furnished the writer with the following estimates of the quantity of 

 ice cut at the following-named ponds : 



At Fresh pond, m Cambridge 95,000 ttans. 



At Spy pond, ^yest Cambridge 7.^,000 tons. 



At Little pond. West Cambridge 12,000 tons. 



At Wenham pond 30,000 tons. 



At Eel pond, in Maiden 3,000 tons. 



At Horn poud, in Woburn 15,000 tons. 



At Smith's pond, in South Reading 1 10,000 tons. 



At Quauapovvitt pond, in South Reading 15,000 tons. 



At Lynntield poud, in Lyunfield 15,000 tons. 



At Hackett's pond, in Andover 10,000 tons. 



At Leach's pond, in North Chelmsford 15,ti00 tons. 



At Sandy pond, in Groton 15,000 tons. 



At Charles liver, Waltham ^ 5.000 tons. 



At Hammond's poud, Newton 3,000 tons. 



At Jamaica pond, West Roxbury 10, 000 tons. 



At Assabett pond, Assabett 15,000 tons. 



Total 343,000 tons. 



In the winter of 1847 S650 were daily paid for laborers and $230 for 

 horses. It was stated that on an average there are not generally more than 

 twenty days in a season favorable for cutting and securing ice. Wages one 

 dollar a day at that time. 



At the beginning of ice cutting and storing only farm implements were uped. 

 The business, however, soon developed the necessity for implements and ma- 

 chines for doing the work, which were supplied. 



In 1847 more ice Avas secured in a day than would have been requisite to 

 supply the trade in 1832. Ordinarily, before ice is formed of sufficient thick- 

 ness, snow falls, which, if the ice be four or moi-e inches thick, is removed by 

 a "snow-scraper," in case the snow is not of sufficient weight to bring the 

 water above the ice, but if it does, after being frozen, the snow ice is removfd 

 by an "ice plane," which cuts about two inches deep and twenty-two inches 

 iu width. This machine is drawn by two horses, and is directed by inserting 

 its guides into gi-ooves before made by the ice-marker. The chips are removed 

 in the same manner as dry snow. This is often attended with great expense, 

 and if the weather is warm immediately after, is a total loss ; yet if thia be 



