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tinn, it shoulfl not be less than uiae or ten t'cet 

 diameter, and a;; many deep : where the situation 

 is either of a dry chalky, gravelly, or sandy kind, 

 the pit may be made entirely below the surface 

 of the ground ; but in strong loamy, clayey, or 

 moist ground, it will be belter to raise it so high 

 above tlic surface, as that there may be no dan- 

 ger from the wetness of the soil. 



Atthebottomofthewell thcreshould be a space 

 about two feet deep left, for receiving any moisture 

 which may drain from the Ice, and a small un- 

 derground drain shoidd be laid from this, to 

 carry off' the wet ; over this space should be plac- 

 ed a strong grate of wood, to let the moisture 

 fall down, which may at any time happen, from 

 the mellingof the Ice. Theside? of the well must 

 be walled up with brick or stone at least two 

 feel thick ; but if it be thicker it wdl be better, 

 as the thicker the walls are made, the less danger 

 there is of the well being aft'ected by external 

 causes. When the wall of the well is brought 

 within three feet of the surface, there must be 

 another outer arch or wall begun, which must be 

 carried up to the height of the top of the intend- 

 ed areh of the well ; and if there be a second arch 

 turned over from this, it will add to the goodness 

 of the House ; but this must depend on the per- 

 son who builds going to the expense. When 

 not, the plate into which the roof is to be fram- 

 ed must be laid on this outer wall, which should 

 be carried high enough above the inner arch to 

 admit of a doorway in, to get out the ice. 

 Where the building is to be covered with slate 

 or tiles, there should be a thickness of reeds, 

 straw, or other similar material laid under, to 

 guard against the effects of the sun and ex- 

 ternal air; where they are laid two feel thick, 

 and plastered over with lime and hair, there 

 will be no danger of the heat penetrating. 



The external wall of the house need not 

 be built circular, but of any other form, 

 as square, hcxangular, or octangular j and where 

 it stands much in sight, may be so contrived as 

 to make it a pleasing object. 



Ice-Houses may be built in such a manner 

 as to have alcove seats in the front, having pas- 

 sages to get out and put in the Ice behnid them ; 

 or the entrance may be behind, to the north ; 

 small passages being left next the seats, through 

 which to enter to take out the Ice, a large door be- 

 ing contrived with a porch wide enough for a 

 small cart to back in, to shoot down the ice 

 upon the floor near the mouth of the well, where 

 it may be well broken before it is put down. 

 The aperture of this mouth of the well need not 

 be more than two feet and a half in diameter, 

 which will be large enough to put down the ice, 

 a stone being left to stop it, which must be closed 

 up as securely as possible after the ice is put in^ 



and all the vacant space above and between 

 this and the outer door be filled close nitli 

 barley straw, or other similar material, to ex- 

 clude the external air. 



The door to enter for taking out the ice should 

 be no larger than is absolutely necessary for tin: 

 coming at the ice, and must be strong and close 

 to exclude tlie air; and at five or six feet distance 

 from this another door s'lould be contrived, 

 which should be closely shut before the inner 

 door is opened, whenever the ice is taken out 

 of the House. 



When the House is thus finished, it should 

 have time to drv before the Ice is put into it ; 

 as when the walls are green, the damp of them 

 frequently dissolves the Ice. And, at the bot- 

 tom of the well, upon the wooden grate, some 

 small faggots should be laid ; and if upon these 

 a layer of reeds be placed smooth for the Ice to 

 rest upon, it will be better than straw, which is 

 commonly used. In the choice of the Ice, the 

 thinner it is the better it niav be broken to 

 powder; as the smaller it is broken the belter it 

 will unite when put into the well. In putting 

 it in, it should be rammed close, and a space 

 left between it and the wall of the well, by straw 

 being placed for the purpose, so as to give pas- 

 sage to any moisture that may be collected by 

 the dissolving of the Ice on the top or other- 

 ways. 



In putting the Ice into the House, some mix 

 a little nitre with it, to make it congeal more 

 fully ; but this is not necessary. 



As the Ice becomes solid in the well, aa 

 iron crow is necessary to take it up with. 



The Ice-House is, as has been seen, capable 

 of being made an ornamental building ; but this 

 is seldom done; it being generally placed in a 

 sequestered spot, on thc'side of a hill or sloping 

 ground, the base of which is lower than the bot- 

 tom of the well; the outside being well banked up 

 with earth, to keep out all external air and heat, 

 and neatly covered with turf. 



In the annexed plate is the plan of an im- 

 proved Ice-House. 



Fig. 1. is a section in the direction of the 

 entrance passage. 



A. Upper covering of earth. 



B. and K. Strata of day. 



C. Wall of the arched roof of passage. 



D. Entrance passage. 



E. Entrance aperture of the well. 



F. Well. 



G. Side-walls of well, and the cavities of it 

 for the retention of the warm air, which would 

 otherwise make its way to the well. 



H. Pipe for carrying oft" the water or moisture. 



I. Drain of it. 



L. Door of passage. 



