306 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



all guess work, and at the present price of cattle-food, it is expensive 

 guessing. 



AN AX TO GRIND. 



The number of axes that are brought here to grind is remarkable. To- 

 day, a Mr. Pitkin of East New York, had a very dull one to be sharpened, 

 something about making shoes. The Club listened to a long, dull, point- 

 less harangue, until tired, and then requested him to carry his grist to some 

 other mill. 



ICE-HOUSES. 



Solon Robinson. — The discussion of this question has awakened a good 

 deal of interest in the country. I hold in my hand a letter from C. Rob- 

 bins, of this city, who lives upon Staten Island, and wants to build an ice- 

 house, and avoid some of the errors of his neighbors. As his letter imparts 

 as well as asks information, I will read it. He says : 



" I live on Staten Island, where neither charcoal, sawdust nor tanbark 

 can be had, except at great expense ; but dry forest leaves and salt hay 

 cost but a trifle. Will either of the latter answer a good purpose for an 

 ice-house out of ground, and if so, which is the best ? (1.) 



*' I propose to make two boxes of rough hemlock boards — the outer one 

 12 feet square by 10 feet high, the inner one 10 feet square by the same 

 hight — so as to leave a continuous space of 12 inches all round between 

 the boxes ; this space to be filled with leaves or hay pressed down tight. (2.) 

 The roof to be covered with tongued and grooved boards, and set at an 

 angle of 35 deg., with a projection of two feet. The double doors will be 

 in the peak of the roof. The outside frame to be supported by chestnut 

 posts, lined on one side, and set into the ground four feet apart ; the inside 

 box, or frame, to be supported by joists, 2x4 inches, set edgeways, three 

 feet apart, secured against the inner side. Chestnut sleepers will be laid 

 on the ground, covered with loose boards, from which there will be good 

 drainage. Will it be necessary to make the roof double, and have an open- 

 ing on the top for ventilation? (3.) Can you suggest any impovement on 

 this plan, without increasing the cost ? (4.) One of my neighbors, for the 

 want of tanbark or sawdust, built an expensive ice-house on the ground, 

 walled up with stone, but it fails to keep the ice. (5.) 



Yours truly, C. ROBBINS, No. 13, Cliff st. 



I will briefly answer these inquiries : 1. Either salt hay or leaves will 

 answer a good purpose, and I should use whichever is the cheapest. 



2. This plan will make an ice-house that will keep the contents safe in 

 any place. 



3. There is the same necessity for a double roof, that there is for double 

 sides, and more, for that is not necessary if there is a good thick lining of 

 straw betwen the ice and boards. I double my roof by a thatch of straw, 

 first laid and then boarded over. 



4. The improvement I should suggest would be a cheaper frame. Make 

 the outside just like the inside. It is cheaper, and will answer just as 

 well as the chestnut posts. 



