THE FARMER A T HOME. 219 



rammed solid, of the sawdust or tannin. The west side of a hill, or 

 under trees of dense foliage, is a desirable location for an icehouse ; 

 and it might be well that it should be covered over with ivy or grape 

 vines, or honey suckle, to intercept the rays of the sun or the warm at- 

 mosphere. It is advisable also that the door should be on the west 

 side, and that it should be opened during the night or in the morning 

 when there is no current of hot air to rush in. By a small expense, 

 every farmer may have a small ice-house, that in the hottest weather 

 of summer will keep fresh meat in good order for any reasonable 

 length of time, and where butter may be kept hard, adding at least 

 ten per cent, to its value, whether designed for market or family use. 

 Such saving from an ice-house would soon balance the cost of its 

 erection. 



ICE TRADE. A very curious traffic within a few years has 

 sprung up ; to wit, the transportation of ice from New England to 

 tropical regions in different parts of the world. In the East Indies 

 the artificial formation of ice has been long carried on. as the only 

 means of cooling beverages and food The ground near Hoogley, 

 about forty miles from Calcutta, is formed into shallow troughs ; into 

 these troughs, on a layer of straw, are placed pans of porous earthen- 

 ware. Shortly before midnight in the winter months, and when the 

 wind happens to be blowing from the north-west, a little water is 

 poured into each vessel or pan ; and if all the circumstances are 

 favorable, a film of ice is found in each pan on the following morning ; 

 and this ice is collected and stored with the utmost care. The selling 

 price of this ice at Calcutta is about six pence per pound ; but the 

 Calcutta inhabitants were surprised by the arrival, in 1833, of a ship 

 from the United States, laden entirely with ice, which was offered for 

 sale at three pence per pound, which afforded the shipper a good pro- 

 fit. Since that time the price has been reduced ; and the traffic has 

 become regular, and of very considerable magnitude. It is mostly 

 procured in the vicinity cf Boston, where the article is very pure and 

 solid, and can be obtained in any quantity desired. The contrivances 

 for collecting, handling, and preserving it are exceedingly curious, and 

 give evidence of American ingenuity and enterprise. 



ICHNEUMON. An animal of the weasel kind, bred chiefly in 

 Egypt. It has the strength of a cat, and is more nimble and more cun- 

 ning ; it easily strangles a cat that is larger than itself. It takes to the 

 water when in danger, and will live a considerable time under water. 

 More expert than cats in catching rats and nice, they are used in 

 Egypt for that purpose The animal makes *var with great courage 

 and eagerness upon all kinds of serpents. If bitten by the viper or 

 the asp, it uses a certain root that cures the poison. Its principal 

 service to the ancient Egyptians was in discovering and destroying 

 the eggs of crocodiles ; and for its usefulness in this respect it was 

 worshipped by that idolatrous people as a deity. 



