Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-12-24
Ice for Farmers.

We take the following valuable sug-
gestions from an exchange. They are
SO pertinent and easy to follow that we
hope many q farmer will benefit by
them and provide himself bountifully
with this luxury for the future -
"After harvest, when there is leisure,
make all artificial pond-a large, deep
pond in which fish can be kept, and
pure ice oStained for the icehouse in
winter. Oneor more such ponds should
be made on every farm. There are but
such ponds. They should be surround
ed by fence so as to keep the cattle out,
admitting them to water at but one
place. Those who have the interest of
their stock in view will see that they
are provided at this season with an
abundance of clear, pure, cold water"
The writer was once cOnversing with a
well to-do farmer on this subject of ice,
telling him how easy il was to have a
supply that would render the hot season
much moro comfortable. at is easy for
you," he replied, ''for you have large
stream of water convenient, but have
nothing within four miles larger than a
little run down yonder," pointing to
StuAli DFOOk lIat Tail lTOIu Ouc Cl
his place to the other. "That is suffi-
cient," we answered, and pointed out to
him three or four places where he could
dig out s.nall ponds without encroach-
ing on his land particle. He went
right to work with plow and scraper
and in two days had two nice ponds
made, which not only furnished plenty
of ice for winter, but bathing places and
Fishing holes'' for the boys and good
watering places for stock during the
summer This WIS morethan ten years
ago. and the ponds still do duty, with
an occasional dredging which they get
| during the driest season. There are
many things to do latter harvest, when
there is leisure" and the agricultural
Ipapers are prone to parade these "Odd
ljobs" before.their readers until that leis-
ure time seems to be the busiest of the
year. We promise, however, not to
urge many duties upon our readers ii
they will attend to this. To those who
have tried it, ice is not a simple lux
ury to be dispensed with as well as
not, but has become necessity, and
they would about as soon think of do
ing without the years supply of pota-
toes, or fruit, or fuel, as to dispense with
the ice. One of our readers requests q
plan for cheap icehouse large enough
to supply an ordinary family during the
year. A pile of ice eight feetsquare and
the same in height is enough for family
use. For such pile build the house
ten feet square and the same height as
, there nast be foot of sawdust all
saround the ice-sides, bottom and top.
The house can be made on the simplest
plan possible-two frames of four-ineh
stuff for bottom and top, mailing the
boards on these upright. Only shin
, gle wall is nesded. Lay loose floor in
: the bottom so that the water can
pass through to the ground freely. First
put foot OF sawdust on the floor, tax
ing care to level it well with slight in.
clination 10 the centre SO that the ice
i, will press together. Then build the ice
pile on this, one foot from the wall all
around, packing jim sawdust between
. the ice and the wall as the pile RISES
When the pile OF ice is eight feet high
nine with the sawdust in the bottom
put foot of sawdust on top and c0vel
r with any kind of board roof that will
t keep out the rain, leaving the ends Oper
t for ventilation. Provide some way t.
t carry off the water that drains through
. the sawdust and floor, if this is not nat
} urally provided. This is all that is need
ed to keep ice. OF course, the hOuse cal
be made ornamental and costly as de-
q sired, but it will not keep the ice an,
r better than the rudest structure built n
: we have described, the cost of which
will be trif1inR. osie gs1