The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-01-02


discussing the topics Of following: To.
bacco stripping, supplying Xmas wood
DC. There is another subject which
may as well claim our attention lie. OF
preparing for, and harvesting a supply
Of nice clear ice for the ensuing sum.
mer Which is an acknowledge lux.
ury to all who have tried it.
One Of the most important things
connected with this business is the
location ofth pond. In the opinion
Of the writer many persons make a
mistake in daming up a stream to Sc
cure a sufficient surface Of water. or
tentmes the dam is swept away by q
heavy fall Of rain and this sometimes
occurs when the ice is quite OF nearly
ready % be gathered, and then to IN
dertake TO repair this breakage with the
ground frozen is job not to be sought
after. l would suggest the selection Of
some little cove or flat on the north
side Of steep bluff which Is nearly OF
altogether excluded from the sun and
20 which can be conducted a small
stream Of water from some neighboring
branch. Ifthere is any doubt about
there being fall enough for the water to
run from the branch to the spot select
ed for the pond, test the matter with
a farmers plumb-leyel, which instru-
ment in ante-bellum days was to be
found on almost every farm and was
used especially in running water fur
rows. Many time the natural eye
would say; well, that stream Of water
can never be MAIDS to run to the spot
selected for the pond, but when the
plumb-level is applied your opinion
changes.
Admitting now that the location is
al right and that the water can be /
readily obtained. Next procure an old |
road scraper, a good pair Of
horses and two hands, one to drive and |
the other to use the scrsper; lst decide |
what size pond you wish, and then
proceed % scOup out a basin, empty
ng the dirt on the lower part and
hereby forming a dam Of sufficient
ieight for the depth Of water desired.
would not advise having the water
ieep, say ten or firteen inch depth is
N that is necessary. Ice will form
asier on shallow than on deep water.
When the pond is completed if there
S any portion Of it exposed to the sun,
llaut few long poles and to these
pike on few pieces Of scsntling and
lang them full Of pine brush. 1t does
lot require zero weather 20 make good
re. The great secret is to retain dur
lg the day what ice is formed during
he night Where the pond is fairly =
ven shaded and the mercury say
nywhere from fifteen TO twenty above :
ou may rest assured that it will re- I
uire only a few days and nights Of {
FEATHER 10 have pretty good ice.
During the winter Of l9OO-l90l there !.
as hauled from my pond (which is 3
bout thirty by eight yards, making a C
uiace Of 240 yards about 100 loads Of
e, the thinest Of which was
inches and from that TO inches, OF /"
Nurse tins was not all from one freeze. q"
lt several When ice is pretty thick |
link il better to cut il into small
ocks before depositing it into the pit.
hin will usually break small enough c
it rs dumped i'm. The old custom OF s.
'unding it seems to be a thing Of the u
ST. And well, it is, as there is always If
ore or less trash, and besides you are "
d able 10 yet out a nice big piece for bi
e refrigerator. When the job Of fill re
2 the house OF pit is completed the Il
oner 1t is covered with leaves the he
tier, and from time TO time cram In rs
ives between the ice and the wall. IN
ID generally where this is pracuced th
"a will be apt to have ice until ice &C
mes again. OF
GHo. II. Hunt, 10
Va. lC,