The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-01-22
The Farm Ice House
By J.C. Taylor, County Agriculturist.-

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by J.C. Taylor, County Agriculturist- -
The value of ice on the farm,
particularly in the hot months of
i4uly and August, has always been
under estimated. These are the
months in which the flies are the
worst, milk sours quickly, butter
rs the softest, vegetables decay,
land cooked foods spoil.
[ The house wife can prevent this
Iif the farmer will build an ice
fhouse and put up ice in the win
Tier. The cost of an ice house
large enough for ordinary family
fuse is very small compared with
1.-THE amount of good and profit the
Iuse of ice will bring during the
Ihot summer months. The medi-
cinal use of ice will more than
compensate for the expense of
putting up an ice house, in the saw
ling of doctor bills alone, to say
nothing of the possible saving Of
ia life by having ice convenient.
1t is not uncommon in rural dis
tricts to find it impossible to secure
ice when it is urgently needed.
| Have the ice house, when pos
lsible, by itself-not in a hollow,
or where water can run into it
from a bank. Having selected
the location, prepare the bottom.
If the soil is sandy or Of a porous
nature, it will need no drain; but
if not, great care should be taken
to arrange for drainage. In an
Fordinary house, dig a trench
through the center thirty inches
wide and twelve inches deep. Fill
this with loose stone to within
three inches Of the ton, and slope
all parts of the bottom to this
drain. Then fill to the top with
shavings and straw, covering over
with loose boards. You will then
have a perfect drain that will
carry off all water and let in no
air.
Again, if capital is a limiting fac
tor, "a dug-out in the bank will
serve to keep ice durino the sum-
mer. The same system of drain
age may be used, or another good
one is to place small boulders over
the entire floor. Rye or flax straw
make good substitute for saw
dust when the latter is not avail
able. The partly under ground
type of ice house has been used
by number of farmers In east
ern Montana and gives fairly good
satisfaction; at least it will do un-
til more substantial one can be
provided. So there is really no
valid excuse for any farm being
without ice.
Inregard to care of ice, do not
neglect at. Be careful that the
top is always covered After
packing go over it frequently and
see that there are no air holes. |
Keep the sawdust well packed all /
times.
AS to the size and capacity of
houses, they will hold the follow
ing for every foot in height OF Ice
packed fairly solid and well frozen:
14x2O, IS tons; .14x25, 6 tons; 14x3O
7 tons. The. amount of ice a far
mer desires to put up depends
naturally upon the purpose for
which it will be used. The aver
age farm will require 100 to $50
pounds daily if ice is used to cool
the milk, butter, cooked foods,
vegetables, etc The number OF
ice is used depends upon
the season, 'bhtswe can be reason
ably sure that-the six snonths be-
ginning with May will require ice.
Now is the time to harvest your
ice crop and'beprepared TO enjoy
omesof the ;conveniences which |
trulyabelong on the well managed
farm. 1t will greatly aid the
house wifein her'dtties during the
not season and she,a ,aas well as the
rest cf7the family, rs entitled to
any comforts that will make farm
ife more comfortable.
CEED CORN For ,Sale-N. w.