July 19, 1861. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



49 



ing-out of these is a little different. Of two favourite positions 

 for an ice-heap we should select, when we could get it, a level 

 space some 24 feet or more in diameter, with a sloping hank 

 above it on one side, and a slope or dell below it on the other. 

 In such a place the ice could be brought to the top of the 

 bant, broken there, and then sent down an inclined plane, 

 in the shape of a trough, to where the centre of the heap 

 should be. Suppose the heap were to be a cone some 

 16 feet in diameter, and to be raised 10 or 12 feet to a sharp 

 point, then the base for 18 feet or so should be raised, and 

 the ground slope from it on the bank side, as well as the 

 other, and a little ditch be made there, so that no rains on 

 the ground near it should reach the ice. A few pieces of 

 wood, a layer of faggots, and then some litter or stubble, will 

 make a comfortable bottom. This bottom not only secures 

 dryness, but prevents the heat of the earth in summer 

 greatly influencing the heap from below. Men must keep 

 the heap in a proper form, drawing it in gradually from the 

 base to the summit, and using a little water if the ice is too 

 hard to build nicely. The next best position is an open 

 space, with a natural hillock for its centre. Prepare the 

 bottom in a similar way ; but here there will be less danger 

 of water. Carts may be emptied on either side, and the ice 

 shovelled up and put in its place when broken. A cone of 

 that size will require about thirty good loads of ice as taken 

 from the water. The more compactly it is built the better it 

 will stand. Though generally built in round heaps, yet an 

 oblong parallelogram would answer equally well. The great 

 thing is to have a sloping side to throw off the wet ; and it 

 is of little moment whether a person has one large heap or 

 several smaller ones. When heaps are made oblong, some- 

 thing like a huge Potato-pit, of course the opening to take 

 out ice will be made at one end, in a round one at one side. 

 Much depends on keeping the opening exposed as short a 

 time as possible. 



However built the sides must not be too steep, or the 

 coverings will not be easily kept on. When finished as 

 firmly on the sides as possible, it is advisable to wait for a 

 frosty night before covering it ; and if that should not come 

 a good shower will do it good, as it will make the outside a 

 dense sheet of ice. 



Snow rolled in heaps when well consolidated, and a little 

 water used to enable the workmen to compress it, is little 

 inferior to ice, either for ice-wells or ice-heaps. When a 

 good fall takes place, and there is an open park to go to, it 

 is easy to get a great quantity of it when fresh fallen, or 

 when there is a slight thaw. When hardened, however, a 

 little on the surface with frost or wet, it is vain to attempt 

 to roll it into heaps. 



The heap being made and finished, the next thing is to 

 cover it up securely. A layer, of 3 inches or so of clean 

 wheat straw should be placed ail over it. After that, when 

 possible, the covering next the straw should be of an open 

 nature, and the very outside rather of a close nature. Pro- 

 vided the outside air does not penetrate, the more ah' en- 

 closed between the outside covering and the ice the better 

 it will keep. Thus, after the straw, we have seen 9 inches of 

 rough stubble put on, and the outside formed of 9 inches of 

 tree leaves. Again, we have known small spruce or larch 

 faggots used above the straw for a foot in depth, and then 

 a thatching of straw from 9 to 12 inches thick, and both 

 answered well. Where tree leaves can be easily obtained, 

 I would prefer 3 or 4 inches of clean straw, and then 6 inches 

 ■of leaves at first, increasing the amount gradually to 12 or 

 18 inches of leaves, according to the heat of the summer. 

 When these are once settled it takes a very strong wind to 

 dislodge them, and if the sides are moderately steep rain 

 passes freely down the outside without ^penetrating to any 

 extent. If the above amount of leaves were put on at once, 

 they might be liable to heat. Vermin rather dislike bur- 

 rowing in the tree leaves. Any other substance will do, 

 provided the same conditions are observed. 



One thing we must guard against, as a cause of failure. 

 Some people, extra careful, put a rough frame over then- ice, 

 and the covering over it. I never saw one case in which 

 such a mode answered well. When the ice sinks the frame 

 does not sink with it, vacancies are formed between the ice 

 and the coverings, these get filled with moist vapour and 

 melt the ice, or sometimes holes are also formed in the 

 covering, by which the warm air outside has free entrance 



to the heap. By placing the covering at once on the ice, 

 the covering sinks as the ice sinks, and no space is given 

 for damp vapours, nor yet much chance for any openings 

 being formed. At any rate, I have never seen these kindly- 

 intentioned rough frames used but disappointment more or 

 less was the result. It would be better to construct a wood 

 house at once, and have an air-tube in the roof and door- 

 way. In heaps nothing should come between the ice and 

 the covering. 



Several inquiries have been made as to whether an Ame- 

 rican or Cobbett's ice-house would not be preferable to 

 houses or ice-stacks ; and also requesting a short outline as 

 to the mode of making them. First, then, as to making. 

 Choose a suitable spot where you can describe a circle some 

 19 feet in diameter. In the centre fix a post 10 inches in 

 diameter, and 15 feet above the ground level. Describe a 

 circle 10 feet from the centre, and in this circle, at regular 

 intervals all round, fix fifteen posts, 9 feet above the ground 

 level, and about 6 inches in diameter. Connect these with 

 a plate at top. In the outer circle of 19 feet you will want 

 fifty-four posts, 5 feet high, and each some 5 inches in 

 diameter. These also are to be connected with a wall plate. 

 The centre pole will at its top form the apex of the building 

 inside. Any carpenter will know how to put on the rafters, 

 so that they may extend beyond the outer line of posts. 

 These will be thatched with 4 feet thick of clean straw. 

 The space between the outer and inner rows of posts is also 

 to be filled with straw closely packed, and, of course, there 

 will be a doorway, or rather two, with a space between, for 

 admittance. The ice is kept in the ten-feet circle. 



IS ow, we do not think there would be any economy in the 

 use of such a house in many parts of this country — first, 

 owing to the posts not being thickly enough plaeed to pre- 

 vent our shorter straw from bulging ; and chiefly because, 

 independently of the yearly sinking of the straw, and the 

 necessity of fresh packing, in most country parts it would 

 be almost impossible to prevent such a building being bur- 

 rowed in by vermin, and the holes would admit air to the 

 ice. Our opinion is that a building of wood, brick, or stone, 

 with double walls, would prove the most economical in a 

 few years. 



One word more. When ice has to be taken to the man- 

 sion for various purposes, the preserving of it as long as 

 possible is a matter of some importance. Ice-tubs are, 

 therefore, very useful for the superintendent of the kitchen 

 or the cellar. They may be made of any size or shape. 

 We have a very useful circular one near the cellar, 3 feet in 

 diameter at bottom, outside measure, 30 inches in diameter 

 at top, and 3 feet in height. The bottom is formed of wood 

 some 4 inches thick, the sides of the same 3 inches thick, 

 lined inside with cork 1 inch thick. It is supplied with 

 two lids, one thick, and similarly lined, that fits into a 

 groove, so as to be on a level with the circular outside ; 

 the other to go over that, and come down a couple of inches 

 over the outside. It used, also, to be lined with woollen 

 cloth, but that seemed to be of little consequence. It is 

 painted outside of a whitish colour. There is a small iron 

 vessel fixed inside that would hold somewhere about two 

 gallons of water; and, there being a pipe from it com- 

 municating with a tap outside, there is always a ready com- 

 mand of iced water during the summer. Bottles of wine, &c, 

 are merely placed among the ice. Though this tub stands 

 in an airy place, the ice keeps a good while, if the lid is 

 not often opened. 



If some of our humbler friends desire a glass of cool 

 water in summer, the simplest plan to obtain it is to fill a 

 porous earthenware bottle and set it full in the sun, with a 

 woollen cloth fastened round it, and that cloth kept wet. 

 In such circumstances the hotter the sun the cooler will the 

 water become. Though a glass of such water is considered 

 a luxury in hot weather, we question much if the frequent 

 use of it would be conducive to health. — R. F. 



CHANGING OCCUPATIONS. 



I have been a reader of your Journal for one year and a 

 half, and at present being almost unable to decide what to 

 do, I write to you for advice. 



Though I have taken your Journal for the time stated, 



