UNCLE SAM'S FARM. 55 



one direction, the same process is repeated in a trans- 

 verse direction, marking all the ice out into squares. 

 In the mean time, the * plough,' drawn by a single 

 horse, is following in these grooves, cutting the ice to 

 a depth of six inches. One entire range of blocks is 

 then sawn out, and the remainder are split off toward 

 the opening thus made with an iron bar. The bar is 

 shaped like a spade, and of a wedge-Uke form. When 

 it is dropped into the groove the block splits off, a 

 very slight blow being sufficient to produce that effect, 

 especially in very cold weather. The labor of 

 ' splitting ' is light or otherwise, according to the 

 temperature of the atmosphere. ' Platforms,' or 

 low tables of frame-work, are placed near the opening 

 made in the ice, with iron slides extending into the 

 water, and a man stands on each side of this slide, 

 armed with an ice-hook. With this hook the ice is 

 caught, and by a sudden jerk thrown up the slide on 

 to the platform. In a cold day every thing is speedily 

 covered with ice, by the freezing of the water on the 

 platforms, slides, &c. ; and the enormous blocks of ice, 

 weighing, some of them, more than three hundred 

 pounds, are hurled along these slippery surfaces as if 

 they were without weight. Forty men and twelve 

 horses will cut and stow away four hundred tons 



