1850. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
397 
She JFanwf 0 Jfote-33ook. 
Ice-Houses. 
In answer to several inquiries, we again insert the 
accompanying cut of an ice-house above ground. 
It was originally furnished to the Horticulturist by 
N. J. Wyeth, a celebrated ice merchant of Cam¬ 
bridge, Mass., who describes it as follows: 
An ice-house above ground should be built upon 
the plan of having a double partition, with the 
hollow space between filled with some non-conduct¬ 
ing substance. 
In the first place, the frame of the sides should 
be formed of two ranges of upright joists, six by 
four inches: the lower ends of the joists should be 
put into the ground without any sill, which is apt 
to let air pass through. These two ranges of joists 
should be about two feet and one-half a part at the 
bottom, and two feet at the top. At the top these 
joists should be morticed into the cross-beams which 
are to support the upper floor. The joists in the 
two ranges should be placed each opposite another. 
They should then be lined or faced on one side, with 
rough boarding, which need not be very tight. 
This boarding should be nailed to those edges of the 
joists nearest each other, so that one range of joists 
shall be outside the building, and the other inside 
the ice-room or vault. 
Manner of nailing the hoards to the joists. 
The space between these boardings, or partitions 
should be filled with wet tan, or sawdust, which¬ 
ever is cheapest or most easily obtained. The 
reason for using wet material for filling the space 
is, that during winter it freezes, and until it is again 
thawed, little or no ice will melt at the sides of the 
vault. 
The bottom of the ice vault should be filled about 
a foot deep with small blocks of wood; these are 
levelled and covered with wood shavings, over which 
a strong plank floor should be laid to receive the 
ice. 
Upon the beams above the vault, a pretty tight 
floor should also be laid, and this floor should be 
covered several inches deep with dry tan or saw¬ 
dust. The roof of the ice-house should have con¬ 
siderable pitch, and the space between the upper 
floor and the roof should be ventilated by a lattice 
window at each gable end, or something equivalent, 
to pass out the warm air which will accumulate 
beneath the roof. A door must be provided in the 
side of the vault to fill and discharge it; but it should 
always be closed up higher than the ice, and when 
not in use should be kept closed altogether. 
Michigan Sod and Sub-soil Plow. 
It will be recollected that this plow received a 
special premium, equal to the highest offered, at the 
trial of plows by the N. Y. State Ag. Society in 
June last. The figure of the implement, as given 
in our October number, represents it as first con 
structed. The accompanying cut shows it with 
several improvements which have been added. The 
form of the forward share has been somewhat altered, 
and a cutter attached to the share, substituted for 
the former lock-coulter. An improvement has also 
been made in the attachment of the plow to the 
beam, and in the gearing belonging to the wheel. 
Newell French, Rome, N. Y., is the proprietor 
of the patent for the above plow. 
Preparations for Winter. 
Such preparations for winter as have not already 
been made, should be attended to without delay. 
Domestic animals should be provided with comforta¬ 
ble shelter. This is a duty enforced by the obliga¬ 
tions of humanity, as well as a matter of policy in a 
pecuniary view. The heat of the animal system 
must be kept up to about 100° ; the substances which 
supply this heat are taken as food—they are the fuel, 
and the colder the atmosphere by which the animal 
is surrounded, the greater will be the amount of food 
required to sustain it. Animals should be kept dry, 
in winter. A cold, drenching rain is more injurious 
than almost any fair weather to which they are 
exposed. Moisture is rapidly evaporated, and 
every particle of water that is thus carried off, 
takes with it a certain amount of heat. This ex¬ 
plains why animals are so likely to 11 take cold/ 7 as 
the expression is, by exposure to dampness under a 
low temperature. The heat is absorbed by the 
vapor, till the cold strikes through the system to the 
vitals. 
Farmers that have not already suitable buildings 
for their stock, may readily make those which will 
serve for a while. Sheds for sheep may be made of 
boards, rails, or poles. If the latter are used, they 
may be thatched with straw, or with hemlock, fir, 
or cedar boughs; and by making the sides and ends 
double, with a space of six or eight inches between 
and filling the space with straw, they will afford 
good protection. 
Vegetables which have been stored in cellars 
