BUTTER AND CHEESE-MAKING. 399 



Ice-house. Next in importance to the thermometer is 

 the ice-house. Many farmers say "I can't afford it." 

 They should say " I can't afford to be without it." It will 

 save three times its cost every year. The method of build- 

 ing the following is so simple, and involves so trifling an 

 expense that no man need have an excuse. 



Select a place on the north side of some building ; lay a 

 floor twelve feet square on scantlings, one foot from the 

 ground. Set firmly in the ground, near each corner, two 

 posts, from four to six inches square, and about eight or ten 

 feet long. When the weather becomes cold, place on the 

 floor saw-dust, tan-bark, or rye-straw, to the depth of eight 

 or ten inches. On the top, place another floor of the same 

 size, putting a curb inside the posts to keep the filling be- 

 tween the floors in its place. Next make a curb ten feet 

 square and six inches deep, and fasten the corners with 

 common gate-hooks. On a cold day place the curb on the 

 centre of the floor, put in two inches of tan-bark, and dash 

 water over the bottom until it forms a coat of ice that will 

 not leak. Fill the curb with water and let it stand until 

 frozen solid. With boiling water thaw the curb loose, raise 

 it to the top of the frozen mass, fill and freeze as before. 

 Continue so doing until the mass is of the desired height. 

 Place boards on the inside of the posts, and fill the space 

 with tan-bark or rye-straw ; nail boards on the outside of 

 the posts and fill the space with rye-straw ; cover the top 

 with tan-bark to the depth of ten inches. Over the whole 



