B E R I S (nat. ord. 



Crucif'erae). 



The iberis is better 

 known as candytuft, and 

 will be found described 

 under that name. 



Ice House. 



A large house in the country can hardly 

 be said to be properly provided unless it 

 has, somewhere in the grounds, an ice 

 house. Ice is a very inexpensive luxury to 

 those who live in the country, and who 

 have the means of keeping it. The con- 

 struction of an ice house is very simple, 

 and the management of one extremely easy. 

 On any dry spot of ground, under shade of 

 ^ trees, on the slope of a hill, or where 



"Tis still the same where'er we tread, 



The wrecks of human pow'r we see ; 

 The marvels of all a?es fled, 



Left to decay and thee ! 

 And still let man his fabrics rear, 



August in beauty, grace and strength, 

 Days pass Thou, Ivy, never sere. 



And all is thine at last." 



MRS. HEMANS. 



drainage can be obtained, let a well be 

 sunk of any convenient size. It is a mis- 

 take to suppose that it need be very deep, 

 for ice keeps best in a broad, solid mass, 

 as we may prove by examination of any ice 

 house, where we shall find that melting 

 always begins next to the side walls. At 

 the bottom of this well fagots should be 

 laid to form a drainage, and upon these a 

 bed of dry straw or reeds to receive the 

 ice. From the bottom of the well, under 

 the fagots, there should be a brick drain, 

 trapped on the outside with a siphon, so 

 that all water may be carried off and no 

 air admitted. The walls of the well are 

 best built hollow, and the top arched. The 

 ice house should be provided with two 

 doors an inner one on the top of the well, 



267 



