When
either snow or ice can be obtained, begin by laying a good coat
of straw on the bottom of the ice house, and up part of the sides.
If snow, throw it in, and let it be well beaten together and so
proceed until the house is full. If ice, prefer the thinnest (that
is, about an inch thick), break it as finely as possible, with
clubs and mallets at the entrance, put it in also, and let two
or three men be employed in the house, packing and beating it
close together with rammers. As the operation proceed, sprinkle
a little water occasionally over the whole, which will make it
freeze together in a solid body. The whole art in keeping ice
simply consists in packing it closely, and defending it from the
action of the atmospheric air.
The
house being full, let the doors be shut up, and the spaces between
each packed full of straw. For security, have the outer door locked
and the joints between the door and the casement painted over
with a thick coat of coarse paint, or strong lime wash. it will
be unnecessary to open it afterwards, until opened to take out
the ice. Care must be taken, every time that any ice be taken
out, to have the doors all shut, and the spaces filled up again
with straw. It should be taken out as expeditiously as possible,
and one person should take the ice to the kitchen, or wine cellar,
while another renders the house secure again.
Some
people put salt with the ice as the house is filling, but this
is quite unnecessary. It will consolidate as well with it as without
it.
