228 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



than hemlock boughs placed over it. He remembered once in a 

 town where he lived, that a number of neighbors met together 

 and concluded to try the experiment of taking ice from a pond 

 and making a mound of it, under the protection of a piece of 

 woods, Avhere the sun scarcely ever reached. They covered it 

 over with straw, and they had ice in adundance all the next sum- 

 mer. The speaker remembered coming down the Hudson river 

 once, and a number of sportsmen, who had been among the Cats- 

 kill mountains for trout, were coming down also. They had 

 found enough of ice among the mountains to pack all their fish 

 in, and they said it remained there in abundance. There are 

 many neighborhoods in the country where, with a single days 

 combined effort, they can have any quantity of ice for the summer. 



Mr. Carpenter objected to recommending any such course to 

 farmers. He thought every farmer ought to be able to keep his 

 own ice. It was true ice could be protected in this way in the 

 open air, by shavings, sawdust, or evergreen boughs surrounding 

 it. Referring to the mode of keeping ice in houses he said that, 

 generally, if the soil was sandy the refuse water would settle into 

 the ground ; but it was necessary that the water should run off 

 in some way. If a drain is built the air should not circulate 

 through it. There should be a trap in it, where the water might • 

 stand, and keep out the air. 



Rev. Mr. Weaver thought the cheapest method for a person 

 living where ice-carts run was to buy it. This was the case if 

 we count the extra labor and expense necessary for the storing 

 of ice. To a farmer, who does the work himself, the case may be 

 different. 



Mr. Kavanagh spoke of a very simple mode of building an ice- 

 house, which was to place hemlock boards in a sloping position, 

 about ten feet high. The expense was not more than ten dollars, 

 and it would last three or four years. If covered with shavings 

 the boards keep quite dry and sound. 



Mr. Carpenter said that one important use to which ice was 

 put, among the dairies of Westchester county, was to place in 

 cans of milk to be sent to New York. It was as good as a cow 

 to the dairyman, for it saved him a large quantity of milk, and 

 it was a benefit to the buyer, for it kept the milk sweet and 

 healthy. 



Mr. Henry, in speaking of the use of ice in preserving meat, 

 said that meat laid upon ice is injured. It is well enough for th© 



