Putnam patriot., 1915-02-05

eprepared by the United States Dspart-
 ment of AuieultuaJ
 The cost Of constructing a refrig- eFafaf of 8a ice chest is small 1t e0m- narIaon 0ItA economic returns and the comfort fhee offer the farmer They ore even af greater importance iH the country lhau iu the cltH although mang of gar rural population do not avail fhemaalFea Of the opportunity 10 an5og the lHzurg of ice.
 The United States department Of ag- rlemfure iu farmers bulletin tNo= #75J on Ice Houses outlines the manner of construction of farm res Kfigefator large enough to meet tae requirements Of a welleaalpped farm for the storage of butter eggs and fresh meats and for chilling fruit in small quantities
 This refrigerator can be constructed an cellar, in the iean.to of an ice house. or in any other farm building where convenient and suitable protec- sion can be provided If none of these
  tor may be constructed aa an inde- pendent building If built as a sepa- rate structure the same care in the choice of q site should be exercised as fn choosing the location of an lcehouse. The construction is shown in detail in Fig. l. The essential feature is Wellslngulafed room containing an ice rack. drip pan and drain This fefrig- efaiof is by 10 feet and has q floor space 6 hy feet available for the atorase ef produce
 Such aH arrangement Will require about loo tons af ice during the year. but 1t can be used to hold egga and butter over the season of abundant production supply Of fresh meat can be kept by such means in loeali- sles where distributing wagons are u0t run, and even where a local sup ply is available inc 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 single season through the advance secured by holding the egg output for only 60 days Dealers purchase and store eggs while they are most abundant and dispose of them during the sea son of less abundant production al an advanced price A welleonstructed and well-handled refrigerator of this kSlnd on the farm will enable the pro ducer to keep this profit at home.
 Construction of Ice Chest.
 Where less expensive cooler Is desired an lee chest will be found to serve useful purpose Such a chest gan be made from two boxes. one l2 Inches longer and wider than the other and 6 inches deeper. II the inner box is feet wide, ? feet deep and 3 feet long the outer box should he 8 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 aine and provided with drip pipe in the bottom near one end and a metal erat- sng l2 inches from that end. so as to make q cage in which to store a block of ice A layer of 6 Inches of cork dust or dry white pine shayings should Ae placed in the bottom of the larger nox after 1t has been lined with water proof building paper. Place the smaller BOX on the layer of insulation making provision for the draln. and then pack the same insulating material tightly in the space between the outer and the inner box, Fit board over she packing between the boxes so as to cover the edge of both Then hinge a thick, well,insnlated cover 10 the en- tire top Of the chest The joints can he made tight by weather strips and Eelt The cover should be provided with counter weight and a good ice chest hasp to hold it in place.
 How to Make Ice.
 Where there are no ice ponds block lice can be made easily by allowing wRter to freeze in cans of heavy gal Ivaniaed iron provided with heavy loand iron or wire reinforcement aroand the top. Any tlnsmith can lrnake such cans,
 The cans should be of the dimen.