Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-12-04
Keeping Ice Without an Ice House.

Ice houses are not difficult structures
to build, and we presume that few farms
are without them. There are cases.
however, when it is desirable to stow
away larger quantity of ice than the
receptacle will contain, and when the
farmer is unwilling to go to the expense
ola house which he might utilize only
for single season. In such instances,
as well as those where the ice house is
absent altogether, the following plan for
storing ice without an ice house will
prove useful: '''''. .- .-.'''.
The first thing to be done is to select
shady spet, on the north side, if posi-.
BILE, of a clump Of trees. Throw up
circular mound, some twelve inches in
height and at least fifteen feet in diam
eter, fattening the summit carefully,
and leaving trench around the emf
nence, two feet in width and eighteen
inches in depth. In gathering the ice,
there is no necessity Of cutting into uni
form shape, or of seeking large pieces.
Fill up the carts with any kind of frag-
ments, transport them to the mound,
and dump them on platform made of u
few planks. Ram the surface of the
mound hard and frm5 cover with saw
dust, and then place the first layer of
ice, which should previously be cracked
into small pieces, for which purpose the
men should be provided with wooden
nallets. AS each layer is put on the
stack, the ice should be thoroughly
pounded both above and at the sides so
as to form huge block of ice, the
shape of which will be slightly conical.
When the stack is completed, it will
require two coverings of straw, one
lying upon the ice and the other sup
ported on wooden framework about
eighteen inches outside the first cover
ing. 64&g
The layer of straw next the ice must
be well beaten and fattened down upon
it, and when this is done be twelve inches
in thickness. The framework, upon which
a similar thickness of straw is placed,
may be formed by inserting stout larcb
or other poles of suitable length round
the base in slanting direction, SO that
they can be readily brought together al
the top, and securely fastened with stout
cord. From six to eight of these will,
when joined together by means of strips
Of wood fixed about twelve inches apart
afford ample support for the SECOND
covering of the straw. This must bt
put on nicely, so as to prevent the pos
sibility of the rains penetrating to the
inner covering. By this arrangement
there will be body of air, which is onC
tof the most effectual non-c conductor
known, between the two coverings o
straw. To effect change of the in
closed air, when rendered needful by it
becoming charged with the moisture
arising from the melted ice, a piece o
iron or earthenware piping few inche
in diameter should be fixed near tn
apex, one being just above the straw
and the other end reaching into the in
, closed space. The pipe can be readil
opened or stopped up, as may appea
necessary, but as q rule it will suffice t
open the pipe once a week, and allow
to remain open for about two hours
This should be done early in the morn
ing, as the air is then much cooler tina
!, during the day or the evening.
! In removing ice from the stack, th
early morning should be taken advar
/ tage of, because of the waste which mus
9 naturally ensue from rush of warm a
9 at midday. That removed can be place
: in cellar, or even an clubhouse an
I be enveloped in sawdust until required
y The ice must be taken from the top
> and when the first supply is obtained,
r good quantity of dry sawdust should /
placed over the crown, The princip
d points to avoid waste are to ventilate
\ the manner indicated, to avoid openin
+ the tack more frequently than is real
g necessary, and to take the supply earl
o in the day, before the air has bee
II warmed by the sum-