Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-12-17

tIon-c, Floor PIan-D, Sectional
Prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculturel
The cost of constructing a refrig-
orator or an ice chest IL small in COM
parison with economic returns and the
comfort they Offer the farmer. They
are even of greater Importance in the
country than in the city. although
many If our rural population do not
avail themselves OF the opportunity to
enjoy the luxury of ice.
The United States department OF ags
ricuiture In a farmers bulletin mo.
475) on ice Houses" outlines the
manner of construction OF a farm re-
frigerator large enough TO meet the
requirements of a well-eQuipped farm
for the storage OF butter. eggs and
fresh meats and for chilling fruit In
small quantities.
This refrigerator can be constructed
In a cellar. In the lean-to OF an ice
house, or in any other farm building
where convenient and suitable protec-
ton can be provided. II none Of these
alternatives Is possible the refrigera-
tor may be constructed as an indie
pendent building. If built as a sepa-
rate structure the same care In the
choice OF a site should be exercised as
In choosing the location of an icehouse.
The construction Is shown in detail
in Fig. I. The essential feature is a
well-insulated room containing an ice
rack, drip pan and drain. This refrig-
orator Is by 10 feet and has floor
space by feet available for the
storage Of produce.
Such an arrangement will require
about 100 tons of ice during the year.
but Il can be used to hold eggs and
butter over the season OF abundant
production. A supply of fresh meat
can be kept by such means In local.
ties where distributing wagons are
not run, and even where a local sup
ply Is available the producer can ar
range TO supply his table at wholesale
rather than retail prices by killing his
own sheep. pigs or veal. Instances are
known where an equipment of this
sort has paid for itself In a single
season through the advance secured
By holding the egg output for only GO
days. Dealers purchase and store
eggs while they are most abundant
and dispose of them during the sea-
son OF less abundant production at an
advanced price. A well-constructed
and wellhandled refrigerator OF this
kind on the farm will enable the pro-
Queer to keep this profit at home.
Construction Of Ice Chest.
Where a less expensive cooler is
desired an Ice chest will be found TO
serve a useful purpose. Such a chest
can be made from two boxes. one 12
inches longer and wider than the
other ard inches deeper. II the
inner box Is feet wide. feet deep
and feet long. the outer box should
be 3 feet wide. feet long and 30
inches deep. The inner box. which
should be made OF matched white pine
or cypress, should be lined with zinc
and provided with q drip pipe in the
bottom near one end and a metal graf
ing IL inches from that end. so as to
make q cage in which to store a block
of Ice. A layer OF inches of cork
dust or dry white pine shavings should
be placed In the bottom of the larger
box after IL has been lined with water
proof building paper. Place the smaller
box on the layer OF insulation. making
: provision for the drain. and then
pack the same insulating material
tightly In the space between the outer
and the inner box. Fit a board over
the packing between the boxes so as
to cover the edge of both. Then hinge
q thick. welLinsulated cover to the en-
tire top OF the chest. The joints can
be made tight b. weather strips and
felt. The cover should be provided
Aywith q counter weight and a good ice.
chest hasp to hold IL In place.
How to Make Ice.
Where there are no ice 2on6s block
ice can be made easily b. allowing
water to freeze in cans OF heavy gal
vsniZed iron provided with a heavy
band-iron or wire re enforcement
around the top. o. tdi can
make such cau9.
The cans shcrfa - ~ # az.