CATTLE THE DAIRY. 847 



height is as little as can be relied on to keep all summer, and 

 the larger the bulk the less the waste); that there be sufficient 

 packing around it of good non-conducting material to keep it 

 from the air, thorough drainage, and good ventilation. Double 

 walls are not necessary, but as less saw-dust will be required 

 with them, it may be profitable to have them. To secure drain- 

 age, fill the bottom of the ice-house with stone to the depth of 

 a foot, and then cover this with six or eight inches of saw-dust 

 before putting in the ice. 



A large window in each gable will give sufficient ventilation, 

 and the ventilator shown in the roof may be built or omitted 

 at pleasure. The windows in the gable should be always open 

 to prevent the accumulation of heated air under the roof. The 

 house should, if possible, be protected from the direct rays of 

 the sun by trees. If this can not be done, it is well to have a 

 grape-vine arbor, or some similar protection on the south and 

 west sides. If there are double walls with a space of four or 

 six inches, a foot of space between the ice and the inner wall 

 will be sufficient, but if a building with single wall is used I 

 would leave sixteen or eighteen inches. 



Saw-dust is the best material for packing ice, as it is clean 

 and not likely to heat or mold. The space between the ice and 

 wall must be filled with this, tightly packed, and the top cov- 

 ered to the depth of eighteen inches. It will be necessary to 

 visit the ice-house daily as spring approaches, for there will 

 often be an air-hole, and waste will begin even before the weather 

 is very warm. Tramp round over the top, feel round the edges, 

 and see that there are no cavities. It is advisable late in the 

 season to remove part of the saw-dust, as that packed round 

 the sides will fall as the ice is taken out, and the large mass 

 of wet saw-dust makes it hard work to get at the ice, and I 

 have known it to heat and cause the ice to melt. 



It has been suggested that one side of the ice-house be 

 arranged on hinges, so it can be let down to permit the more 

 easy storage of the ice. How this can be done is shown in the 

 engraving. This, however, is not essential. Place the ice-house 

 where it will be as convenient to the house as possible. 



