400 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



us would do well to lay aside this number for re 

 perusal next Juno, even if we have to purchase it 

 expressly for that purpose at the cost of a year's 

 subscription. 



In the reply of Mr. French to the inquiry of 

 "J. D." as to "What kind of Farming" he 

 would recommend, one little paragraph particu- 

 larly arrested my attention, viz. "i ihinh we 

 New Englanders are more extravagant in our 

 dwellings and carriages and furniture, than any 

 other people on earth. ''^ How much of the cream 

 of our soil, in the shape of grain and cattle, leave 

 us forever to pay for these "extravagances^' The 

 present time too it seems to me is particularly 

 fitting for the introduction of such thoughts. For 

 several years farmers have enjoyed great prosper- 

 ity — prices high and money plenty — and the in- 

 ducements to indulgence in these things propor- 

 tionally increased. Such "good times'' often 

 prove a "snare to the feet" of young farmers. 

 Look out, boys, for a change of times, and for 

 debts it will be hard to pay. 



T should like to notice some of the many other 

 good things in this number, which I have read, 

 but I am too late in the day. 1 cannot however, 

 pass over the "Successful Farming" by Mr. Gaj-, 

 of New Hampshire, Avithout saying that no kind 

 of agricultural articles gives me more pleasure 

 than such accounts. It would be well, I think, 

 that the rigid economy which must lie at the 

 foundation of such success, should be made more 

 prominent, in these days of thoughtless improvi- 

 dence. A Reader. 



Winchester, Aug., 1854. 



For the New England Farmer. 



ICE HOUSES. 



Messrs. Ebitors : — In last week's i^armer I no- 

 ticed an article from Lysander B. Hunt, in which 

 he states, that, having been at much expense in 

 building an ice house, he finds it impossible to 

 keep ice in it later than the 20th of July. I can- 

 not conceive why a house built as he describes his 

 to be, should fail, with proper care, of keeping ice 

 tlie year round. It may be the case, and I think 

 very likely is with his, that he endeavored to make 

 it air tight, or as nearly so as possible. Now this 

 should not be so, for it is a fact, that ice cannot 

 be kept in a building nearly tight, without melt- 

 ing, half as lung as it can where a moderate quan- 

 tity of air is admitted, although care should be 

 taken not to ullow too much. 



There are many ways, and for aught I know, 

 equally good ways, for keeping ice. But allow 

 me, Mr. Editor, to present for the consideration of 

 your numero s readers, the plan of a building got 

 up and built by myself and brother three years 

 since, which I know, and will warrant, from ex- 

 perience, to koej) ice the year round, and in point 

 of cheapness and convenience! think cannot be 

 beat, — as thrcn; thousand feet of lumber, twenty- 

 five pounds oi' nails, and four or five days* work, 

 amounting in all, to not more than twenty-five 

 dollars, will build an ice liouse large enough for 

 one family numbering less than twenty. I think 

 much depends upon the situation of an ice house, 

 and should consi<ler it very desirable;, if possible, 

 to ])uild it witliin an other house, for many rea- 

 sons, which I will not tire your patience by giving, 

 but at once give you a description of th3 one built 



by us, hoping, if it shall meet the approval 

 of any of your readers, and they should think best 

 to build like, or similar, to hear from them in the 

 future through the columns of your valuable pa- 

 per. 



In the first place, dig out the dirt where you 

 wish your house to stand, to the depth of two 

 feet, or more, if exposed to frost greatly, and fill 

 up with stone, then put your sills on level with 

 the ground, put in strong sleepers, and cover this 

 over with three inch plank. Commence upois 

 these plank with scantling, sawed one and a half, 

 by four inches for your wall, laying one upon the 

 other and nailing them one to the other, inside of 

 this lay up another tier, leaving a space of about 

 four inches to be filled up with sawdust, or tan- 

 bark ; so continue till you have it as high as you 

 wish for ice ; then take plank and cover over, 

 having them come to the outer edge of your in- 

 side Willi ; continue on as before with your walls, 

 until as high as you like, and cover all over with 

 plank two inches double ; if under cover no roof 

 will be necessary more than this. Have twodooi-s, 

 one where the ice is, and one above where you can 

 put in butter,milk or anything you like to have kept 

 cool. Bore these upper plank full of two inch 

 holes, the ones above the ice ; and the ones at the 

 bottom of the house bore half inch holes through 

 them once in about a foot all over the bottom, 

 and spread two inches, or more of sawdust or 

 tan-bark over the bottom before putting your ice 

 in. Pack the ice as closely as possible, not having 

 it come quite up to the top and edge of your 

 house, and when full throw sawdust, or whatever 

 you may use over the top, and also fill upbetweea 

 the ice and sides of the house, and I will venture 

 to say you will not be out of ice by reason of 

 melting by July 20th- Joseph Blake. 



Ashfield, August 17- 



HAVING A TRADE, 



By ail means have a trade. Do not go up and 

 down in the world, and find nothing you can put 

 your hand to. You may not always Ixj as pros- 

 perous as you are now. Thank heaven we live is 

 no land of primogeniture, hereditary succession. 

 Each man is morally bound by labor. Have some- 

 thing you can turn your energies to when times 

 pinch — have a trade, we repeat. Educate your 

 hands; it will be an everlasting resource. We 

 never knew a man, who, with a good ti-ade, failed 

 of getting a good living, and much moie with 

 right application. What though you are going 

 to college, or into a profession ? The case is not 

 altered — you need it just as much. It will come 

 in play every day in your life. Discipline of the 

 hand should always go before that of the head. 

 We never knew a college boy that wasn't better 

 for a substantial trade. He always graduates 

 with the highest honors. He is sure to be a schol- 

 ar. The fact is, he knows liow to work — to con- 

 quer. He but transfers himself from the shop to 

 the study. Young man, decide at once to learn a 

 trade, apply yourself with all your mind and 

 heart, and be its master, and if you are not obliged 

 to work at it, you have laid by so much, and such 

 a kind of wealth can never be taken from you. 



J^ This year is said by the oldest inhabit4»t 

 so be the driest since the year 1826. 



