The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-01-05

and board partitions. leaving at least 30
inches between the boards GIL the space
with dry sawdust or dry taubark (tbe
former is preferably and pack it closely
build the walls at least one foot above
the top of tie ice leave openings 70 that
air may circulate freely through the
house over the ice ; roof 80 as TO exclude
rain, anu babk around the building with
earth, so as to prevent air from escaping
from the house, under or through the
foundations; and cover the ice with not
more than 10 or IL inches o. dry saw.
dust. No straw. tan, sawdust. or other
material, is required under or between
the layers of the ice usually make
the floor, on which the ice rests, Of any
rough wood, laid closely on the earth.
Neither store nor brick foundations are
necessary. Blocks on which the rest the
sils, laid on the ground properly leveled,
are a good foundation. Three by four.
inch scapiliug are heavy enough for the
stills, s,uddiug and plates. The boards
forming the double walls OF siding, en-.
closing the sawdnst filling, should be
placed on the outside Of the inner row oil
,tudding, and on the inner side of the
outer row When sided thus, very little
pailing is required, as the pressure Of the
dust on either side keeps the board walls
against the studding. The dust should
rest on board floor few inches from
the earth, that it may not absorb mois.
turc from it. llalfiuch bolts should be
used to bolt the inner and outer rows OF
studding together, to prevent the dust
or other filling from spreading them
apart one every four feet 10 the height
OF the studs is all that is required.
The earth cmbankment all around the
building should be closely packed against
the outer boards, if it can DO convenient.
ly obtained without excavaiing a trench
around the building, it is better to avoid
making trench bat the water from the
roof, and that which falls or flows around
the building, should be conveyed from 1t
by good surface drainage. 1t is better
to project the caves Of the roof we'll, un-
less cutters are provided. so that the roof
water may not wash the embaukment
earth from the building. Cutters are
preferable. If the ice house is conspicu.
ously located so that it is essential to
give it more beauty Of exterior than that
produced by exposing to view the exter.
Tor studdipg it may be sided on the outer
side of the outer line of studding; but
there is no economy ip depending on sid.
ing on the exterior Of the studding to sup
port the dust. for as soon as the boards
are weakened by decay they burst off,and
it is impossible to repair on account Of
the falling dust but hcards on the side
Of the studding towards the dust will SUP.
tain it until they are utterly decuyed.
The door for filling should extend from
sill to caves plate. No hinges are re
quired for the doors here should he
double rows Of cleats Oh each Of the wide
door jambs between each double row
bin-boards should be loosely inserted as
the filing Of the house advances. and the
space between them should he finally fill
ed with dust the same as the remainder
of the walls. The ice may be removed
through the same door by removing the
loose boards and the sawdus. in the door.
way should be thrown 10 around the ice.
AS the ice melts next TO the walls the
space should be kept filed with dry dust
The filling in the doorway should always
be maintained one foot higher than the
bulk of ice. When the house is filled.
the ice should be so placed as to be high.
est in the center, and should be so kept
throughout the season in which it is
used, that the melted DRAWINGS from its
upper surface may flow of towards the
wall and thence to the floor. instead Of
filtering through the main body of the
mass of ice. This precaution alone. when
| have recommended its strict observance
has secured the keeping of ice throughout
the season in houses before considered
worthless. Too much covering material
on the ice in the house, particularly if it
is allowed to ferment, is worse than too
little A dairy house may be construct
ed by the side OF an ice house arranged
as have recommended. and the floor OF
The dairy house need not be more thar
two feet below the surface of the sur
rounding ground, and the cold air from
the ice huuse eau be utilized.
j. WILKINSON.
Baltimore, Me.