July 19, 1854. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



47 



with. It also possesses the merit of being of easy growth, 

 and adapting itself to all situations. Although not an 

 annual, it is most readily propagated by seeds, which are to 

 be had of most seedsmen ; and if sown early in spring the 

 plants may ornament the parterre during the same summer, 

 and a few plants retained in pots will look well all the 

 winter when such plants are far from plentiful. In the 

 following spring, most likely, it will run up to flower, though 

 the plant is not improved by its doing so. The flower, which 



is white, is by no means unsightly ; in fact, it is prettier 

 than one that came out some years ago as a great acquisi- 

 tion — namely, Salvia patens alba, for the flowers of S. ar- 

 gentea are individually larger than the other, and in 

 colour and form equally good. I have never used it for 

 bedding purposes, but for mixed borders a few plants intro- 

 duced amongst other things give an aspect different from 



| anything else I am acquainted with, Staehys lanata afford- 



I ing the nearest approach to it. — J. Robson. 



HINTS ON ICE-HOUSES AJN T D ICE-HEAPS, &c. 



[Having recently had applications from some of our readers 

 for No. 588, containing hints by Mr. Fish on the above 

 subject, and that Number being out of print, we reproduce 

 the greater portion of his article, with a few additional 

 notes.] 



Ice-hotjses are generally made in the shape of an inverted 

 cone, or an egg with the largest end uppermost, and a 

 medium-sized house might be 8 feet in diameter at bottom, 

 11 feet at the widest part, and 14 or 15 feet deep from the 

 bottom to the top. When bricks are used there is no diffi- 

 culty in thus having it round ; but I have no prejudice at all 

 in favour of such a round house ; but for all purposes would 

 as soon have a square building, whether built of stone or 

 wood, or any other material. 



Fig. 1 is a section of the egg-shaped well as commonly 



built, with a trap drain from its bottom, and the bottom 

 covered over with logs of wood and rough brushwood for a 

 depth of a foot or 18 inches. It is furnished with a passage 

 and a door outside and inside, so that the space between 

 them may be filled with straw. As will presently be seen, 

 we prefer a double wall instead of a single one, with an 

 open space between of from 9 to 12 inches. The opening 

 shown at the top is of great importance for fillin g the well, 

 where the position of the ground will admit of it. If a 

 layer of clay can be rammed against the outer wall it will 

 be an improvement. The ground around the well should be 

 shaded with trees and evergreens. 



Fig. 2 is a section of one of the simplest and best ice- 

 houses I have met with. As far as I recollect, it was built 

 square, with stone walls, 16 inches thick, enclosing a square 



SOUTH SID 



NORTH SiDE 



Fig. I. 



a, Double doors. 



Fig. 2. 

 b, Steep bank. 



e, Surface line. 



of 16 feet by 18 feet deep. One side abutted on the level of 

 a field, and the opposite one on a deep sloping bank, the base 

 of which was below the bottom of the ice- well. The ground 

 being light the drain was of little use, as the moisture 

 escaped at the bottom. The ice was carted along the level 

 mea.dow to a platform a,t the doorway. There were two 

 doors ; the outside one was of stout deal, on hinges which 

 enabled it to fold back on the roof. The corner one fitted 

 loosely in a groove, and this door was lined with woollen 

 cloth. Though these doors were on the south side of the 

 roof, the ice never failed. The roof was formed of 12 inches 

 of thatch, and then fully a foot of close heath or ling. The 

 ice was pretty well beaten outside, pitched in at the door- 

 way, and then pounded down inside. Nothing as a house 

 could be more simple, or keep ice better; and, the ice being 



taken from clean water, venison, game, &c, were kept in the 

 house for long periods untainted. 



In most of the old-fashioned egg-shaped houses there 

 is a long passage leading to the well, with two or three 

 doors, and, in many cases, the ice must be all carried in and 

 out through that passage. With two padded doors, and a 

 space of 15 inches between them, the long passage may 

 generally be dispensed with ; and, although the ice should 

 be removed through these doors, it will always be an 

 advantage to have an opening at the top for throwing the 

 well-broken ice into the well. I have known several cases 

 of severe illness as the result of men being kept for several 

 hours in these long passages shove llin g the broken ice past 

 them. 



Where dryness may be secured there need be no objection 



