Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-01-29
Build an Ice House.

The reason given by the host of the
Arkansas traveller why he did not shingie
his house-namely, that when 1t did mol
rain it was dry enough without 1t, and
when it did rain 1t was too wet to work
out of doors-is very like the one tina,
most farmers would give why they do moi
build and fill an ice house They do moi
put up ice In winter, because there is no
use for any; while in summer there Is
none to put up. In winter, when the
milk is liable to freeze before the cream
rises, and the butter is too firm to readily
spread beneath the knife, when the face
is,muffied up for protection, and water IL
not an agreeable drink on account OF Its
GOODNESS, we are apt to forget how differ.
ent all these things will be in summer
We do not think then of milk souring
before the cream rises, of butter being OF
the consistency of soft fat, of the brow
feverish with heat, or of the tepid water
that is the only drink in the harvestfield
There is no greater luxury in summer,
and none half SO cheap as ice. Iced wa
ter and milk, frozen cream, and fruits
pressed in water, well shapen cubes OF
butter on the dinner table in August,
delicious cold roasts, pies and pastry all
fresh from the refrigerator-these are but
few of the dainties that can be had in
any farm house that has an ice house in
its vicinity. And then how grateful is
ice to the sick person or to one Frustrated
by the effects of the sun. But apart from
the uses of ice in atfording luxuries, 1T Is
worthy of attention on the score of esono-
my. 1t is difficult to make good butter,
or to keep it long in condition fit for the
,nn Inn
articles of food, and much ripe fruit are
destroyed for the want of ice. With a
good ice house farmer may have fresh
meat from his own fiocks and herds dur
ing most of the summer. Besides these
things ice will sell at good price like
other seasonable articles.
Several times during the past year and
previous years we have given directions
for building cheap ice houses and for
properly filling them, so that il is hardly
necessary TO refer to these plans in this
connection. These suggestions, how,
ever, may not be out of place. A cube OF
ice of eight feet on the side will afford a
family supply for any private family.
Pieces of ice about two feet square are
most convenient for handling and will
keep the best. The straighter they are
cut, and the thicker and clearer the ice,
the less will be the wastage. Ice may
be got out with the aid of an ak,
hand-saw and sharp iron bar; but 1t can
be cut much better with proper ice tools.
If the farmer lives in the vicinity OF
where ice is cut for the trade, ii will be
found cheaper TO buy the ice of dealers,
even if it has to be drawn considerable
distance. The house being in read.
mess, the ice should be drawn
and packed on q cold, dry day.
Houses for holding ice may differ as
widely as houses for protecting people.
They may be built above ground, below
ground, or partly above and partly below.
In either case, the house should have good
drainage, tight roof and an arrangement
for ventilation. Double walls are not es-
sential. There should be space of from
eighteen to twenty-four inches between
the walls and the cube Office. This space
may be filled with saw-dust, spent tan
bark, or in case these cannot be had, with
fresh leaves, chopped straw or hay. The
door should be on the north side of the
building, and it would be well to have the
building stand in place not greatly ex-
posed to the sun or wind. The materials,
except those for the roof, may be of the
commonest kind. Houses made of logs
or slabs, the spaces being simply filled
with earth or battened over, have been
found to keep ice well.-Prairie Farmer.