January 5. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
205 
to find niy heap sadly reduced by Easter, and sometimes 
in the middle of May. All that remained of sixty or 
seventy cart loads of ice was a small portion that would 
have gone into one, and which, in a few days, dis¬ 
appeared altogether. 
T'his was not the result of one year alone, but of 
several years in succession; and thence I had come to 
j the conclusion, that an outside ice-heap was an un¬ 
profitable affair, except for the purpose of supplying any 
i immediate wants of the family prior to opening the 
more important store, when my worthy coadjutor, 
Mr. Beaton’s article on “ Icebergs ” appeared in these j 
I pages, about two years ago, wherein he seems to give the 
I preference to out-door-keeping contrivances; hut it is 
possible he may have placed a massive volume of ice 
in a favourable outside situation, against a smaller 
quantity in an indifferently constructed house—hence 
the result. 
Now, as there are wide differences in ice-houses, and 
in different seasons the same house will preserve ice a 
longer or shorter time, according to circumstances, it is 
not fair to draw a general conclusion on any one season 
alone ; but I would wish to guard parties against filling 
a small house with light snow, for if it be so, no ordinary 
amount of ramming can make it tight, and the whole 
volume being so much charged with air speedily 
dissolves. Most people seem disposed to fill it with 
bright clear ice on a frosty day, when the sounds it 
emits rings like hell metal. Whether this is the best 
possible condition, or not, I am far from affirming; 
certainly it has one advantage, it is likely to be stored 
away clean, for the clear frosty air keeps both it and the 
dirt in their respective places; but 1 am of opinion that 
it is in a more dense condition when a partial thaw 
has commenced, and it is more likely to get well 
broken then; but then it is liable to get loaded 
with dirt, which certainly does more harm than the 
benefit it is likely to derive from its increased density; 
besides which, the propriety of securing ice whenever 
the weather admits, and it is of sufficient thickness, 
must not be departed from. It must be proceeded with 
without delay, regardless of the weather and other ex¬ 
ternal circumstances. 
It is almost needless here urging the necessity of 
having the ice well broken and tightly rammed in, 
these duties being so well and generally known; but I 
would warn all who may not he already aware of the 
I fact, that salt ought never to he used in storing away 
ice, for although confectioners and others use it in the 
preparations they make, still it is not as a preservative 
—in fact, it has a contrary tendency, and when it has 
been used, which it was strongly urged to be done some 
twenty years ago, the result proved its decaying in¬ 
fluences ; therefore, when an ice-house is to he filled, 
rather exercise what care can be done to secure the 
material well pounded in, and clear from dirt, leaves, 
| grass, or other impurities; and the house being well 
tilled up to the top, the straw need not be added until it 
has subsided a little, which it will do in about a month 
or so, when it may he covered over ; otherwise, if needs 
be, it might he filled up with some ice that may have 
been left in store for that purpose, and the second 
receding will be the time to cover it up. However, 
these matters are best known to the individual cases 
they are meant to represent, so that in winding up this 
article, it is only proper to remark, that where a choice 
of water exists from which ice can be withdrawn, select 
that which contains the greatest amount of spring water 
of rather a hard kind, for my experience so far has 
proved it to furnish the best keeping ice. 
•J. Robson. 
I 
THE MANAGEMENT OF DOWN EWES AND 
LAMBS. 
(Continued from page 244.) 
My last paper upon this subject concluded with the 
method of making the fold-yard, and the manner ol 
feeding the Ewes previous to lambing. It is now my 
intention to continue the subject in reference to the j 
treatment of Ewes when they have yeaned, and also of | 
the Lambs as they fall. 
The weather is generally very uncertain, and often 
accompanied by frost and snow, at the time of lambing, 
with this stock; and it must he borne in mind that 
some exceptional management is required in conse" 
j quence. To he well prepared for all contingencies, 
| it is a good plan to have a store of roots at hand, 
or, what is better, to he provided with the large Drum¬ 
head Cabbages, which are not so susceptible of frost 
as roots, can he more readily eaten by the Ewes, and 
will furnish the Lambs with a better supply of milk 
than can he obtained when the Ewes are fed upon 
roots. The Ewes will, however, do well for their 
| Lambs at the first, when fed upon any kind of common 
| Turnips. It will also be very desirable, when con- 
. venient, that a few acres of dry pasture should be held 
in reserve, containing all the grass which may have 
grown upon it since harvest, and which, in ordinary 
j seasons, will by this time have become hearty and 
useful food for the Ewes; and on this land, at the 
same time, they may receive roots in addition with 
advantage. This pasture will afford good lyibg for the 
young Lambs as fast as they fall; so that they should, 
with the Ewes, he removed to it, and there remain; 
; receiving a fresh partition of grass, with roots, every 
day, until the period of removal into Turnips for open 
field-feeding. This removal should not take place until 
i the Lambs are strong enough to encounter the diffi¬ 
culties which usually attend open field-feeding; which 
they will generally he able to do at the age of two or 
three weeks. The foregoing observations, however, 
must be considered to apply to those Lambs which 
come healthy and strong; hut when the reverse is the 
case, they should, together with twin Lambs, which are 
usually more weakly, receive especial care and protec¬ 
tion, by being placed in separate apartments of hurdles 
placed square and under cover. 
It should he carefully noticed which it is that 
requires particular treatment, it being sometimes 
the Ewe, at other times the Lamb, and often both. 
When the Ewes are short of milk, American Linseed 
Cake, commonly employed for feeding purposes, should 
he used, ground fine, and made into gruel. This | 
may he given to them twice a-day, in addition to [ 
the usual supply of food, with great advantage; for. j 
although Linseed Meal may he preferable for the 
purpose, yet, when required for a large number, it 
would be somewhat expensive. 
Lambs, in some seasons, suffer much in health, 
and great and heavy losses often occur. There 
are two complaints to which young Lambs are 
particularly liable, and which, at the samo time, 
