The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-12-22
Gre 6armer,
Guarding the Ice Crop.


At this time of the year many of our
farmers turn their attention to making
preparations for gathering their annual
crop of ice The plans for building ice
houses differ widely in the various sections
Of the country, and in many instances are
controlled by the wants and financial abill-
ty of the builder. The double walled, with
the space filed with sand or sawdust; the.
solid, thick wall of brick or masonory; the
two walls each only single brick thick,
with an intervening air space; those on the
surface, those half below and those COM
pletely buried, with the exception OF the
roof-all these and many more find strong
advocates. In most of the cases the houses
are erected by one who follows his own free
will, aiming to suit his own convenience,
taste and ideas of architecture But it
would be well to pay more attention to the
pond or lake from which the ice is to be
taken than is generally done. The fact
that water will not, by freezing, free itself
from impurities which endanger health is
being widely recognized, and close ex-
animation of the pond itself and of the land
that drains into it will certainly result in
much benefit and may prevent disease. Ii
the ice is to be taken from still water, the
decaying vegetable matter at the bottom
should be removed, especially from under
the part to be cut and-if the water has
current it should be removed for consid-
cradle distance above, so that the gases will
not be carried down to the place of cutting.
The gases resulting from decomposition
partly escape, but much remains and is
liable to rise at any time; besides the chem
ical action is not wholly stopped by the
cold. but continues to certain extent all
winter. The ascending bubbles are caught
and imprisoned in the ice, their foulness
remaining with them until set free in the
pitcher Of water during the following sum-
mer Well authenticated cases of sickness
have been caused by ice water, the ice
having been taken from ponds where in
coming water flowed over beds of decaying
sawdust. That the drainage from barn
wards is likely to prove harmful is self-ap-
parent, and it is hardly necessary to state
that it should be kept out of the ice pond,
vet there are many barns located directly
on the bank, near the very edge. Because
in times past the gauntlet has been sue
cessfully run is a poor excuse for still in
viting the danger. The washing from
pigsty is undoubtedly the worst of the kind,
and it should never be so situated that any
part of its filth can by any possible path
find its way into body of water used for
drinking purposes during either the sum-
mer or winter. The habit Of placing vaults
on the banks of small stream cannot be
too strongly condemned, and although they
may be below the spot from which water
or ice is taken, and so save the owner, they
menance his neighbor, who may be many
miles down stream Ifquite near the pond
the land upon which they are built should
be examined, less the contents find entrance
through the soil The germs Of disease
are liable to be transmitted from them. 1t
is always a safe rule to discard ice from
water that cattle refuse to drink. But this
test is by no means sufficient, as the clear
est and most sparkling water may have an
enemy to health lurking within it. What
is better is critical examination of all pos
sible sources Of contamination and the ef-
tectual barring out of those likely to prove
Objectionable. This search should not only
cover the immediate vicinity of the pond,
but extend for some distance up each
stream emptying into it.-,Scientitic Amer