1S71I. ] 
OX FILLING ICE-HOL'.SES. 
1 1 
of liot-water pipes (r>), for supplying bottom- 
heat ; a cistern, for supply of water to apparatus 
(o); the boiler (d), which is made of copper, or 
copper and zinc ; movable legs or supports (e) ; 
an oil cistern, for lamp (f) ; air-pipe (reference 
not inserted); a perforated tray (n); the feed¬ 
pipe (i) for the vapourising tray (j), through 
which the hot-water pipes pass. By keeping 
this tray filled with water, a genial, moist heat 
will be kept up, which will find its ivay through 
the plunge-bed to the atmosphere above, or if 
not, could be easily conducted thither, by leav¬ 
ing a small aperluro or two communicating with 
the space above the bed. 
In such a case as this, propagation may be 
very successfully and rapidly carried on. The 
case should be set in some light place, where it 
may be protected from the outer atmosphere, 
which would, in severe weather, be more than 
the lamp could contend wdth. A snug corner 
of a greenhouse would be a very suitable posi¬ 
tion for it. Those who have not the advantage 
of a hot-house or hot propagating pit, would 
find one or more of these frames exceedingly 
useful, and much more manageable than a 
common hotbed.—T. Moore. 
Ueai’s AM) Wheatley's I'RorAOATiNC Frame. 
ON FILLING 
S HE Ice-house is an important adjunct to 
a gentleman’s establishment, and the 
filling of it generally falls to the lot of 
the gardener. Now, as the season has again 
come round when ive may expect suitable 
weather for the operation, I wish to say a few 
words on the subject. Wc often hear old 
people talking in prai,se of the “ good old days,” 
as though the limes had degenerated; and I 
think the seasons are certainly not so favour¬ 
able for Ice-house-filling as they formciFmvere, 
though I am liound to admit, for the sake of 
gardening, and in view of the general depres¬ 
sion of trade, that gardeners do not wish to 
see Father Thames again frozen over. 
The best time to commence fillincr the Ice- 
O 
house is after a few days’ hard frost, when the 
ice has become of a considerable thiekne.ss. At 
the most convenient side of the pond for carting 
ICE-IIOUSES. 
away the ice, a substantial platform, composed 
of stout planks, should be laid, and on this the 
ice should be thrown out, so that it can be 
shovelled up in a clean state. When, as I have 
sometimes seen, the ice is drawn out of a pond 
on all aides, and is tramjfied about where the cart¬ 
wheels have created a slough of de.spond, it be¬ 
comes soiled liy being mixed up with a consider¬ 
able quantity of mud, Such ice, when retpiired 
for use, is found to be in a filthy state, so that 
both the butler and M. le Chef are glad when 
there is no frost, so that they may obtain 
a supply of “ Wenham ” from the dealer, in a 
cleaner condition. Moreover, when there is a 
(piantity of dirt thus mixed with the ice, the 
drain is likely to get choked up, and ice will 
not keep well if the thawed water cannot freelj^ 
escape [though air must not be permitted ingress 
through the drain]. Ice should always be broken 
