The Canadian Hokik li.tuki.st 



HOMK ICK PACKING ;. 



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HE method of huilding ice-houses without reciuiring packing of saw- 

 dust, charcoal or other substances, merely by leaving dead air 

 sj)aces, is to-day considered fully equal, if not superior, to the old- 

 time way. Dead air spaces ajipear to have fully as much power 

 as non-conductors as do solid packings, and, the method is a 

 cheaper one. The system, however, must be carefully followed 

 out for the best results. The air chambers must be di.stinct and 

 must not admit a draft up or down or around the ice. The air spaces must 

 open into the upper portion of the house above the plate, that the cold air of 

 evening may descend into them. This also allows air which may have become 

 slightly heated to rise above the ice without reaching it. Partitions must be 

 tight. To receive the full benefit of the system, pains should be taken when 

 the final layer of ice is packed and the covering with sawdust is in process, not 

 to clog these air chambers. 



At least 2 ft. of space should be left 

 for sawdust over the packed ice. Still 

 higher in the side of the building, one 

 or two windows should be placed, 

 which should be left open in warm 

 weather to allow of free ventilation 

 above the ice, allowing the escape of 

 heated air and ingress for any cool air 

 which nights and storms may bring. 

 When small tjuantities of ice, it is de- 

 sirable, even with these air spaces, to 

 leave a space of at least six inches between the inner ice-house wall and the ice, 

 which must be filled with tramped .sawdust. Six-inch studding will do for the 

 outside chamber. Is certainly heavy enough, and even four or three inch lum- 

 Ijer will do ; it need not be more than two inches thick. To secure good drain- 

 age is easy in a side hill or on a very slight slope. If only a dead level is 

 obtainable, the house should be well underpinned and ]terhaps one or two 

 courses of tiles laid in the ground a rod or two from the house, if j)ossible 

 into gravel soil. 



If the characler of your land l)e sandy or gravelly, you need have no anxiety 

 about drainage, as the melting ice will take care of itself. The main point is 

 securing good drainage so as to prevent a draft of air under the ice chamber. 

 It is well to have a stone underpinning well pointed with mortar. .\ current of 

 air will melt many tons of ice in a week An excellent |)lan in use under many 

 ice-houses is a cold storage room. A bank is most convenient for this arrange- 

 ment, though by elevating the floor for ice 4 to 6 ft a moderately good storage 



Fig. 2. — Ice C'iiamisek. 



