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lion, it should not be less than nine or ten feet 

 diameter, and us many deep : where the situation 

 i> either of a dry chalky, gravelly, or sandy kind, 

 the pit may I).' made entirely below the surface 

 of the ground ; but i;i strong loamy, clayey, or 

 moist ground, it will be belter to raise it so high 

 above the surface, as that there may be no dan- 

 ger front the witness of the soil. 



At the bottom ofthe well thereshould be aspace 

 about two feet deep left, for receiving an v moisture 

 which may drain from the Ice, and a small un- 

 derground drain should be laid from this, to 

 carrv off the w et ; over this space should be plac- 

 ed a strong grate of wood, to let the moisture 

 fall down, which may at any time happen, from 

 the meltingofthelce. The sides ofthe well must 

 be walled up with brick or stone at least two 

 feet thick ; but if it be thicker it will be better, 

 as the thicker the walls are made, the less danger 

 there is of the well being affected by external 

 causes. When the wall of the well is brought 

 within three feet of the surface, there must be 

 another outer arch or wall begun, which must be 

 carried up to the height of the top of the intend- 

 ed arch ofthe well ; and if there be a second arch 

 turned over from this, it will add to the goodness 

 of the House ; but this must depend on the per- 

 son who builds going to the expense. When 

 not, the plate into which the roof is to be fram- 

 ed must be laid on this outer wall, which should 

 be carried high enough above the inner arch to 

 admit of a door way in, to get out the ice. 

 Where the building is to be covered with slate 

 or tiles, there should be a thickness of reeds, 

 straw, or other similar material laid under, to 

 guard against the effects of the sun and ex- 

 ternal air; where they are laid two feet thick, 

 and plastered over with lime and hair, there 

 will be no danger of the heat penetrating. 



The external wall of the house need not 

 be built circular, but of any other form, 

 as square, hexangular, or octangular; and where 

 it stands much in sight, may be so contrived as 

 to make it a pleasing object. 



Ice-Houses may be built in such a manner 

 as to have alcove seats in the front, having pas- 

 sages to get out and put in the Ice behind tbem ; 

 or the entrance may be behind, to the north ; 

 small passages being left next the scats, through 

 which to enter to take out the Ice, a large door be- 

 ing contrived with a porch wide enough for a 

 small cart to hack in, to shoot down the ice 

 upon the floor near the mouth of the well, where 

 it may be well broken before it is put down. 

 The aperture of this mouth of the well need not 

 be more than two feet and a half in diameter, 

 which will be large enough to put down the ice, 

 a stone beins left to stop it, which must be closed 

 up as securely as possible after the ice is put in, 



and ail the vacant sp;ice above and between 

 this and the outer door be tilled close with 

 bailey straw, or other similar material, to ex- 

 clude the external air. 



The door to enter for taking out the ice should 

 be no larger than is absolutely necessary for the 

 coming at the ice, and must be strong and clo.-e 

 to exclude the air ; and al live or six feet distance 

 from this another door should be con:; 

 which should be closely shut before the inner 

 door is opened, whenever the ice is taken out 

 of the House. 



When the House is thus finished, it should 

 have time to drv before the Ice is put into it ; 

 as when the walls arc green, the damp of theui 

 frequently dissolves the lee. And, at the bot- 

 tom of the well, upon the wooden grate, some 

 small faggots should be laid ; and if upon these 

 a layer of reeds be placed smooth tor the' Ice to 

 rest upon, it will be better than straw, which is 

 commonly used. In the choice of the Ice, the 

 thinner it is the better it may be broken to 

 powder; as the smaller it is broken the better it 

 will unite when put into the well. In putting 

 it in, it should be rammed close, and a space 

 left between it and the wall of the weil, by straw 

 being placed for the purpose, so as to give pas- 

 sage to any moisture that may be collected by 

 the dissolving of the Ice on the top or other- 

 ways. 



In putting the Ice into the House, some mix 

 a little nitre with it, to make it congeal moic 

 fully ; but this is not necessary. 



As the Ice becomes solid in the well, an 

 iron crow is necessary to take it up with. 



The Ice-House is, as has been seen, capabl » 

 of being made an ornamental building ; but this 

 is seldom done; it being generally placed in a 

 sequestered spot, on the sicfe of a hill or sloping 

 ground, the base of which is lower than the bot- 

 tom of the well ; the outside being well banked up 

 with earth, to keep out all external air and heat, 

 and neatly covered with turf. 



In the annexed plate is the plan of an im- 

 proved Ice-House. 



Fig. 1. is a section in the direction of the 

 entrance passage. 



A. Upper covering of earth. 



B. and K. Strata of day. 



C. Wall of the arched roof of passage. 



D. Entrance passage. 



E. Entrance aperture of the well. 



F. Well. 



G. Side-walls of well, and the cavities of it 

 for the retention of the warm air, which would 

 otherwise make its way to the well. 



II. Pipe for carrying off the water or moisture. 



I. Drain of it. 



L. Door of passage. 



