282 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
When the ice house is situated in a low, damp, and porous soil it is 
generally ineffective, hut when on an elevated dry spot of sandstone or rock 
exposed to the north, the result is generally satisfactory, because it is then 
less influenced by the external atmosphere. Again, failures are in a great 
measure owing to the loose and careless manner with which the ice is thrown 
together, and in its not being made solid, as it ought to he, by pounding. 
Air being warmer than ice often sets it melting, and the tighter it is 
rammed together the less amount of air there is surrounding it. 
After taking the ice from the water it is my custom to pass it through 
the hands of three sets of men provided with beaters; these break it as fine 
as possible before it goes to the packer, who receives it in small quantities, 
and spreads it evenly over the surface, ramming each layer with a heavy 
mallet. Straw in small bundles is packed tightly between the ice and wall of 
the house ; this serves as a channel for the water falling from the ice, and 
from the dampness of the walls. When all is finished, the doors are stopped 
up with clay to prevent the ingress of air. This is repeated every time the 
house is opened. Some persons mix salt in large quantities with the ice, 
others throw water over it, but I have found no necessity for these additions. 
Where ice houses are not large enough, or where none at all are provided, 
it is the custom to put ice up in stacks in the form of a cone ; and if the 
above instructions are well carried out, there is no difficulty in getting a 
supply. Generally speaking, the greater the bulk the longer it keeps. To 
cover the heap with dry leaves, fern, or any similar material 2 feet thick, 
and to thatch this in a workman-like manner to carry off w r et, is a precaution 
indispensable to such modes of ice preserving. Before concluding I should 
like to impress ux>on the minds of my readers what I consider the first and 
most important step in Ice preserving—viz., to take care to select a day for 
storing, lower in temperature than that in which the ice was frozen, or in 
other words while the frost is increasing in severity. The x>ores of the ice 
are then sealed up, whereby its keex>ing qualities are improved. 
Lillesclen, Hawlchurst. Thomas Becoed. 
NOVELTIES, &c., AT FLOWER SHOWS. 
UT very few florists’ flowers appeared at the meeting of the Floral 
Committee, on October 20tli. The best thing in this way was the 
golden-leaved Fuchsia Regalia, from the gardens of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society, Chiswick, one of a batch of seedlings that had been raised 
there ; the upper surface of its leaves was golden yellow, and the 
side claret red, with veins of a similar hue ; it was awarded a first- 
certificate as a desirable and effective bedding plant. There w T ere 
several new kinds of Variegated Zonal, and Gold and Bronze Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums furnished, but not in sufficiently good condition. The most pro- 
under 
class 
