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or staple, to which it can be fastened, when beer is
being placed inside, so that the door will not con
stantly swing to, half closed. It is also wise to
put to the bottom of the bo.x, on the outside, good
solid metal plates about five or six inches high (the
height of the base), for the reason that it helps to
preserve the box and keeps out the rats and mice
who might otherwise gnaw into the box. It is to be
understood, naturally, that the bo.x should be kept
clean, and the bottom perfectly dry, and above all
things, a thermometer should be kept inside the box
that the temperature may be noted and as near as
possible, kept about even.
Naturally the next thing to be considered is the
handling of ice, and after it has been delivered, and
you are satisfied that the weight is correct, see that
it is washed clean before it goes into the box. Arti
ficial ice is preferable when it can be obtained, for
many reasons, the cakes are of a regular size, mak
ing it more convenient to handle, it is more whole
some, and it does not produce the same amount of
slime and dirt as the natural product. But to get
the best results from artificial ice the cakes should
not be placed close together, but a few inches apart,
so as to allow of a circulation of air. Keep plentv
of ice in the box, and do not allow the temperature
to change to any great extent.
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