FARM BULLETIN No. 6. 



NOVEMBER, 1916 





Ice Houses and Ice Supply 



By F. M. White and C. I. Griffith 



A supply of ice will help lower the cost of living. It is 

 of greater economic importance to the farm home than it is 

 to the city home, and not as expensive as might be expected. 

 On some farms the loss of fruits, vegetables and dairy 

 products every year would almost build an ice house. 



Once accustomed to the use of ice, it becomes a con- 

 venience that is seldom dispensed with. With an ice supply 

 it is possible to keep butter, eggs, meats, vegetables and 

 fruits in a first class condition for the table as well as for 

 market. Considering these advantages, a supply of ice will 

 soon pay for itself. In most northern localities ice is free for 

 the harvesting. The harvest season comes at the time of the 

 year when men and teams have very little to do; therefore, 

 the expense of putting it up is practically nothing. The ice 

 house costs from $75 to $250, depending upon the size and 

 type of structure. 



The ice should be taken only from pure water. Lakes 

 and rivers usually furnish it. They need practically no 

 attention until the time of harvesting. Where there is no 

 such supply, water from springs or streams may be stored 

 by building a dam and flooding the area from which the ice 

 is to be harvested. 



Ice from a contaminated supply is very dangerous. If 

 weeds and water plants grow in the pond they should be 

 removed before the first freeze, since the plants, if allowed 

 to freeze in the ice, will be deposited in the refrigerator 

 the following summer, causing an odorous filth and making 

 a good place for disease germs to develop. 



Ice should not be harvested from a pond which contains 

 a green spawn or algae. The water can be rid of it by 



Three 



