Zi/^' 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ICE IN STACKS AND ICE-HOUSES. 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ICE IN STACKS AND ICE-HOUSES. 
By Mb,, H, BAILET, C,M,H.S,, Gaudenee, to G. Hakcouet, Esa., Nunehaji Park. 
Kl S ■we make advances towards refined civilization, so do oiu' luxuries become necessary to existence ; 
JEx and there is, perhaps, no more striking proof of this, than the demand for ice in the summer 
months, since tliis commodity has been placed within reach by the facility of transit, which has 
brought the solid crystal blocks of Wenham Lake into oui- shop- windows at midsummer — thus maldng 
it common to all. In large establishments in this country the demand for ice is much on the increase, 
and, where an ordinary ice-house was formerly deemed sufficient, two are now filled, and these are 
aided by large stacks for early use. It has thus become an important part of the gardener's business 
to secui'e for his employer an ample quantity, and it is hoped that the following observations con- 
nected with the general management of ice for domestic purposes, may not be without interest to the 
readers of the Oarchners' Magazine of Botany. 
In the first place, the sonrce from whence the ice is to be obtained should be, if possible, a broad 
expanse of water, kept perfectly clear from weeds, and fi-om the falling leaves of trees, for nothing is 
more unsightly than dirty ice ; the water, therefore, fi-om which ice is to be procured for family use, 
should neither be margined nor overhung by trees, wliich exercise a powerful influence in preventing 
the sm-face from freezing, by arresting the i-adiation of heat. This may be seen any frosty morning : 
for the exposed portion of a pond wUl be covered with ice, whilst that which is sheltered by branches 
will not be so. Having a moderate thickness of clear ice, we will suppose it carted to the ice-house, 
where it should be minutely broken up, on a clean and sohd floor ; it cannot be too finely broken. 
and should be most closely packed and well 
lammed down in the ice-house. A large 
house will preserve a larger quantity (in pro- 
portion) than a small one, and it is of great 
miportance that the situation be a thoroughly 
dry one ; we find it best also to avoid the old 
plan of using straw up the sides, because when this mate- 
rial gets damp, it assists, like the wet blanket of the 
hydi-opathists, in wastmg the body, and hastening the 
departure of the patient. There is an American plan, 
which has been successfully practised in tliis country, 
at Lord Lilford's, in Northamptonshii'e, and at Lord 
Jersey's, in Oxfordshire — on the principle of getting rid 
of humidity ; it consists in having a small apertm-e in 
the door of the house, to open and shut at pleasure, with 
a corresponding one in the opposite wall. These doors 
are opened every night, and closed again early in the 
morning ; thus admitting a cui-rcnt of diy, cool air, and 
carrying off the condensed moisture, which would hourly 
be exerting its wasting influence on the ice. The accompanying sketch shows the plan. 
Much waste of ice is occasioned by the incautious and frequent opening of the house. This is to 
be avoided by the use of ice preservers, wliich are now much in request, and which keep the ice 
for several days without waste. The house should always be opened in the cool of the morning. It 
FLAN OF ICE WKUL. 
References same as in Section. 
