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SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 



Part II. 



289 



fectioners, and also by some of the market-gardeners, in heaps, with a very thick covering 

 of straw or reeds. 



1 724. To keep ice in stacks or heaps in the open air, 

 an elevated circular platform (Jig. 289. a) is raised of 

 earth ; on this the ice is piled up in a conic form during 

 a severe frost, and the addition of water enables the 

 builder to form the cone very steep. On this cone 

 wheat-straw is laid a foot in thickness (b), over this a 

 stratum of faggot-wood or spray (c), and finally another 

 thick stratum of thatch or long litter of any sort (d). 

 In this way ice will keep a year, care being taken to 

 expose it to the air as short time as possible in taking 

 supplies. 



1725. The form of ice-houses commonly adopted at 

 country-seats, both in Britain and in France, is gene- 

 rally that of an inverted cone, or rather hen's egg, with 

 the broad end uppermost, (fig. 290. ) 



1726. The proper situation for an ice-house is that of a dry spot of ground ; as, where- 

 ever there is moisture, the ice will be liable to dissolve : of course, in all strong soils 

 which retain the wet, too much care cannot be taken to make drains all round the house 

 to carry off moisture. The situation should likewise be elevated, that there may be 

 descent enough to convey off any wet that may arise near it, or from the ice melting ; and 

 also as much exposed to the sun and air as possible. 



1727. The depth and diameter of the ice-well should be proportioned to the quantity of 

 ice wanted ; but it is always best to have sufficient room, as when the house is well built, 

 it will keep the ice two or three years : and there will be this advantage in having it large 

 enough to contain ice for two years' consumption, that if a mild winter should happen, 

 when there is not ice to be had, there will be a stock in the house to supply the want. 

 Where the quantity wanted is not great, a well of six feet diameter, and eight feet deep, 

 will be large enough ; but for a large consumption, it should not be less than nine or ten 

 feet diameter, and as many deep. 



1728. The excavation for the ice-well, where the situation is either of a dry, chalky, 

 gravelly, or sandy kind, may be made entirely below the surface of the ground ; but in 

 strong loamy, clayey, or moist ground, it will be better to raise the well so high above 

 the surface, as that there may be no danger from the wetness of the soil. 



1729. In building the ice- 

 well there should be a space 

 about two feet deep left at the 

 bottom (fig. 290. a), for re- 

 ceiving any moisture which 

 may drain from the ice, and 

 a small underground drain 

 (b) containing a stop or trap 

 for the exclusion of air (c) 

 should be laid from this, to 

 carry off the wet. Over the 

 space at bottom (a) should be 

 placed a strong grate of wood 

 or a cart-wheel, to let the 

 moisture fall down, which 

 may at any time happen from 

 the melting of the ice. The 

 sides of the well (d) must be 

 walled up with brick or stone at least two feet thick ; or the wall may be built hollow. 

 When the proper height is attained the wall may be arched over with two arches with a 

 vacuity between, and leaving in the centre a hole for the admission of the ice (e), and in 

 the sides a door for taking it out (/> This door, in order the better to exclude the air 

 should open into a porch (g) with the three other doors, the spaces between which should 

 be filled with straw to exclude more effectually the heat of the atmosphere. The whole 

 being covered first with a layer of tempered clay and next with a hill of earth, the appear- 

 ance will not be disagreeable (fig. 291. ) and may be made ornamental. 



t 1 730. Management. When the house is finished, it should have time to dry before the 

 ice is put into it ; as when the walls are moist, the damp of them frequently dissolves the 

 ice. At the bottom of the well, upon the wooden grate, some small faggots should be 

 laid ; and if upon these a layer of reeds be placed smooth for 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 



290 



