Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 266, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1911 — Using Cement on the Farm. [ARTICLE]

Using Cement on the Farm.

The use of cement In the rural districts is in its infancy. And there is nothing mat beautifies the home mor« than does nice, well built concrete walks through yards and lawns. For feeding floors and barn floors, it has no equal. For barn floors, feeding floors and the walk In the barn yard, where they are subject to constant heavy use, the following will be found useful: For yard and lawn walks it wljl not be necessary to have so heavy foundation. The work to be ,done should first be mapped out and lined off, being careful to get the lines straight the required width of walk. The work oi excavating should be done with tile spade to the depth of 10 Inches, keeping the sides cut down straight and the bottom cleaned out. This space should be filled within two inches of the top of the ground with gravel, or crushed stone, thoroughly tamped; the work can be easily and quickly done by fasteningkthe handle to a piece of plank two inches by 12 inches- wide by 15 inches long. When this is done the next thing is to fix for the mixing of the concrete by taking two planks 2 by 12 inches 18 feet long for sides and two‘pieces I Inches by 12 inches. 3 feet long for ends; nail together and nail on bottom, being careful to make mortar box tight so as to not lose the cement when mixing; this box would need three pieces 2 inches by 3 inches nailed on tom to keep from sagging. If not mads too hqavy, this box: can be easily moved along the work while in use. In mixing the grout, care should b« taken to use clean concrete gravel, clear of soil, Buch as may be had at any good gravel pit ; screening is not necessary in this part of the work If th« right kind of gravel can be had. We use six parts gravel to one oi good PbrtlSnd cement. The work if done by placing a than on each side at mixing box with road shovel In hand, the third man at end of box with good hoe vigorously used, is a great help. Thoroughly dry mix by shoveling the mixture from one end of the box to the other three times, and then shovel baqk again to make sure it is well done. Now apply the water and mix as before until you- have a good, thick mqrtar Before placing concrete make frame by taking 1 inch by 4 inch strips for sides; nail strip on end end commence the work of filling in the con* Crete; tack strip across top to keep sides from springing. Care should be. taken to tamp concrete good, within one-half Inch eff the top of strips. In mixing the one-half inch skim coat or top dressing, take 1 pert clear light plastering sand to 1 part cement, place, and trowel down, smooth top by taking strip 1 inch by 3 inches edgeways, let it stand two days and take frame away, and you have a walk or floor that will last a lifetime.—lndiana Farm«r> i 1 * 11 1 *"• 11 *