Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-10-18

We take the following valuable suggestions
from an exchange. They are so pertinent and
easy to follow that We hope many farmer
will benefit by them and provide himself
beautifully with this luxury for the future -
After harvest, when there is leisure. make
an artificial pond-a large, deep pond, in
which fish can be kept and pure ice obtained
for the ice house in winter. One or more
such ponds should be made on every farm.
There are but few farms that will not admit
of Just such ponds. They should be surround
ed 10y fence so as to keep the cattle ont, ad-
hitting them 10 the 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 conyersiug with
a well to do farmer on this subject of ice
telling him how easy it was to have a supply
that would render the hot season much more
endurable. 1T is easy for you" he replied,
for you have large stream of water conve-
nient but l have nothing within four miles
larger tLan the little run down youdcr." point
ing to q small brook that ran from one corner
of his place to the other. That is sutici-
eut, We answered. and pointed out to him
three or four places where he could dig out
small ponds without eucroaChiug on his land
one particle. He went right To work with
plough and soraper and IN two days had two
nice ponds made which not ouly 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 was more than ten years ago, and the
ponds still do duty. with an occasional dredg-
ing which they get during the dryest season
There are many things to do after harvest
when there is leisure and the agricultural
papers are prone to parade these odd jobs
before their readers until that leisure time
seems to be the busiest of the year We
promise, however. not to urge many duties
upon our readers if they will attend 10 this
To those who have tried it ice is not simple
luxury to he dispensed with well as not.
but has become a necessity. and they would
about rs soon think of doing without the
years supply of potatoes. or fruit or fuel, a.
10 dispense with the ice One of our read
ers requests plan for a cheap ice house
large enough to supply an ordinary family
during the year. 4 pile of ice eight fee I
square and the same height is enough for
family use For such a pile build the house
ten feet square and the same height, rs there
must be a foot Of slwdust al around the ice
sides, bottom and top. The house can be
made on the simplest plan pOsSsble-two
frames Of four-inch stuff for bottom and top.
mailing the boards on these upright. Only "a
single wall IS needed. Lay loose floor in
the bottom so that the water can pass through
70 the ground freely, First put a foot of
sawdust on the floor, taking care to level il
well. with a slight inclination to the centre SO
that the ice will press together. Then build
the ice pile on this, one foot from the wall all
around, packing in sawdust between the ice
and the wall rs the pile rises. When the pile
of Ice Is eight feet high-nine with the saw
dust in the bottom-put foot of sawdust OIL
top and cover with any kind Of a board root
that viii keep out the rain. leaving the end
open for ventilation. Provide some way tc
carry OF the water that drains through tn,
sawdust and floor, if this is not naturally pro,
vided for. This j. all that is needed TO keeI
ice. OF course, the house can be made as or
nameutal and costly as desired, but it viii not
keep the ice any better than tao rudest struc.
ture built as We have described, the cost OF
which viii be rihng."